A water conservation bylaw is now in effect for the city of Weyburn. City Council unanimously passed the measure during their meeting Monday night.

“Mother Nature, sometimes, you don’t know what’s going to happen, but everybody has to be aware, in rural and people that live in our community, and I think people are intelligent, and they know what’s going on, and they will respect it,” city councillor Dick Michel said after the meeting.

The restrictions to be put in place are very similar to what was seen in the 2016 water conservation bylaw.

Residents will not be able to water their lawns or gardens on Wednesdays or on weekends. Those who live in odd-numbered houses will be able to water on Mondays and Thursdays and those who live in even-numbered houses can water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

On days watering is permitted, it is only allowed before 9:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. There is no language in the bylaw concerning the recreational use of water, such as small pools for children.

There will be some exemptions from the bylaw. Those who have recently seeded or sodded a new lawn can apply to the director of engineering for a permit to water outside of the restrictions. Firefighting, street sweeping and city maintenance activities will also be exempted.

“I think for the citizens of Weyburn it’s very important that they realize water is valuable, and in some cases, it’s just not that easy to replace,” Councillor Mel Van Betuw said.

In 2016, many took issue with the city watering green spaces while under the restrictions. It was announced at City Council the city is reducing it’s watering schedule and practice for most facilities to 50 percent of normal, with some already at a 100 percent reduction. Some sports facilities will be watered at a 25 percent reduction.

The bylaw will be enforced through reports and complaints to the city’s Bylaw Enforcement officer. The fines for breaking the restrictions will be quite steep, ranging from $250 to $1000 for individuals, and $2,500 to $10,000 for businesses.

The restrictions were put in place with the water levels at Nickle Lake nearing a critical stage. Already down by more than a metre from where they would be normally at this time of year, there is a concern where they will be without any measures. If the level falls another metre, the water level will be below the intake for the water, which would mean no water for Weyburn.

Mayor Marcel Roy, in favour of conservation, felt the measure didn’t do enough. Many councillors pointed out it was a good start, though, and more could come in the future in terms of ensuring Weyburn has a stable water supply.

One long-term measure which was suggested was building a pipeline from Rafferty Dam to Weyburn. The drawback to the suggestion, however, is it will take a few years to complete when the situation is affecting the city right now.