Gatineau asks residents to reduce water use

With the recent hot and dry weather, Gatineau is asking residents to respect the municipal water by-law. The situation is especially alarming in Aylmer since “the water plant has reached its capacity,” stated the city.

Aylmer residents use more water than those in other sectors of the city. According to the city’s environment department, the average distribution of water per person in Aylmer reached 431 litres a day in 2014, while the municipal average was 401 litres per day.

With water use on the rise, the city has increased the presence of municipal by-law officers. Failure to respect the water by-law can result in a fine of up to $271.

As of August 7, city employees had issued 176 courtesy notices and handed out 421 fines in 2016 to residents for not respecting the water by-law. Of the 421 fines, 146 were issued in Aylmer, 213 in Gatineau (sector), 32 in Hull and 30 in Buckingham and Masson-Angers (BMA). Of the 176 courtesy notices, 47 were distributed in Aylmer, 76 in Gatineau, 40 in Hull and 13 in BMA.

The water by-law states that between May 1 and September 30, the following schedule applies for mechanical watering (any form of watering other than manual watering) on properties. Even street numbers are only allowed to water from 3 am to 5 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Odd street numbers are only allowed to water from 3 am to 5 am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Moreover, at all times, and throughout the year, Gatineau prohibits “hosing down a driveway, sidewalk, mound of snow, public or private road or a neighbouring property; hosing down a car, a recreational vehicle, a building or a structure with a hose that does not have an automatic shut-off system; using a hose that is not attached to the property on which it is being used; using more than one hose at a time, unless to fill a pool; or wasting water because of a defective tap or valve.”

According to the city, during the summer, water consumption increases by roughly 100 litres per person. This amount represents daily operation costs of $40,000.

While water use increases during the summer, residents have considerably reduced their consumption since 2001. In litres per person, water use went from 549.4 litres per person daily in 2001 to a high of 601.5 litres per person daily in 2011 to a low of 401 litres per person daily in 2014.