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Ottawa Citizen

Businesses with permits to take Carp River water asked to reduce consumption

Article content Under Ontario law, taking more than 50,000 litres of water a day from a river, lake, stream or groundwater for commercial or industrial purposes requires a permit. Those who use water for domestic purposes, firefighting or for livestock are exempted. Article content Article content Article content The Carp River is 42 kilometres long with headwaters in Stittsville, and it ends at Fitzroy Harbour. The river drains 306 square kilometres in both urban and rural areas, including parts of West Carleton-March, Stittsville, Kanata North, Rideau-Jock and Kanata South municipal wards. Article content Article content The city's request is in response to an Aug. 6 declaration by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority that the Carp River watershed was on a Level 2 low-water condition. Article content 'Flows in the Carp River are significantly below normal values for this time of year,' the conservation authority said, adding it would take a significant rainfall over a large part of the watershed to return it to normal conditions. Article content Article content The Ontario Low Water Program defines low-water conditions according to three levels. Article content Level 1 is an early indication of a potential drought condition. Level 2 is an increased likelihood of drought conditions. It is declared when rainfall is less than 60 per cent of historical averages, or if stream flows are less than half of normal summertime flows. Level 3 is a high likelihood of drought conditions, but does not imply an emergency. It is declared if rainfall is less than 40 per cent of the average for the time of year, or if stream flows become less than 30 per cent of the normal summer low flows. Article content The Mississippi Conservation Authority has asked those with permits to take water from surface or groundwater sources to reduce their actual amounts as much as possible. Article content 'Residents are also urged to use water conservatively by using rain barrels to water lawns and gardens and avoid using pressure washers to clean houses, driveways, decks and fences,' it said.