For Immediate Release
2008-06-04
Cindie Ashton, Communications Officer 613-546-4291, extension 3116 (cell 329-3462). Or
call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.
RESTRICTIONS SAVE WATER TO FIGHT FIRES, ENSURE PRESSURE
Starting June 15, residents with odd numbered addresses can water their yards only on odd-numbered
days and those with even-numbered addresses can water only on even-numbered days according
to Kingston's water use bylaw.
Even on scheduled watering days, residents are asked to restrict their use of sprinklers
to between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. - though they may otherwise water their gardens any time
throughout their scheduled day.
Early morning is considered the best time to water a lawn to allow the water to sink into
the soil instead of evaporating into the air.
A lawn only needs about three centimetres of water (one inch) each week.
The bylaw, in effect from June15 to Sept. 15, ensures that the City maintains its reserve
of potable water, maintains water pressure, and has enough water in reserve to fight fires.
The higher summer demand for water for lawns and gardens makes the annually invoked bylaw
necessary, however, Utilities Kingston always encourages conservative use of water.
Residents who have put in a new yard, trees or shrubs, sod, or who have seeded a new lawn
can apply for a $55 exemption permit to allow them to use a sprinkler on their new lawns
for seven consecutive days between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. The permits are issued by Utilities
Kingston at 1211 John Counter Blvd. Existing yards will not be granted exemption permits
and only one permit will be granted per property, per year.
For more information on water restrictions, or to download a copy of the exemption permit,
visit www.utilitieskingston.com/water/bylaw/ or call
the Customer Service Centre at 613-546-0000.
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