Corporation of the City of Grand Forks

OUTDOOR WATER USE RESTRICTIONS STAGES:

THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS IS CURRENTLY AT STAGE 2 FOR WATERING RESTRICTIONS

WATER
EVERY DROP COUNTS
Sprinkling will be monitored by Bylaw Enforcement.

Abiding to sprinkler regulations pays

dividends. When using water responsibly and
within regulations, power and operational costs
are reduced saving our community money.
Energy reduction also relates to less greenhouse
gas emissions and less draw from our aquifer.
A reminder that water restrictions are in place in
the City of Grand Forks.

Here are some easy tips to help you

conserve water wherever you are:

Days of Watering: Sprinkling is only permitted at residential,

commercial and other non-agricultural properties as follows:

Save Water in Your Home

EVEN numbered civic addresses: Watering is only permitted on

Saturdays and Tuesdays, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.
and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
ODD numbered civic addresses: Watering is only permitted on
Sundays and Wednesdays, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.
and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Automatic Timed Underground Sprinklers can water between
12:00 a.m. (midnight) until 4:00 a.m.*
Homeowners are encouraged to purchase a timer for their outside taps
and water between 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 4:00 a.m. as per the
requirements for timed underground sprinklers.

CITY OF GRAND FORKS CURRENT STAGE

STAGE 2: TWICE A WEEK WATERING

Washing of driveways and vehicles is not allowed, except for

commercial car washes.
Flower gardens, vegetable gardens and newly planted lawns and
landscapes may be hand watered at any time using a hand held nozzle.
Sprinkling is NOT permitted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
during any day at any time of the year.

STAGE 3: ONCE A WEEK WATERING

Days of Watering: Sprinkling is only permitted at residential, commercial

and other non-agricultural properties as follows:
EVEN numbered civic addresses: Watering is only permitted on
Saturdays, between the hours of 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
ODD numbered civic addresses: Watering is only permitted on
Sundays, between the hours of 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Automatic Timed Underground Sprinklers can water between
12:00 a.m. (midnight) until 4:00 a.m.*

STAGE 4: NO OUTDOOR WATERING

No person shall use water outdoors for any purpose.

* Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between the
hours of 12:00 p.m. (midnight) to 4:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
BUT NOT BOTH on the days permitted by the sprinkling regulations as described above.
For a full list of sprinkling regulations please visit: www.grandforks.ca
or contact City Hall at 7217 4th Street, Grand Forks, 250-442-8266.

Tip 1: Fix that leaky toilet and save hundreds of litres of water every year. To nd
out if your toilet is leaking, put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into
the toilet bowl without ushing, you have a leak.
Tip 2: Shorten your shower by a minute or two and youll save more than 500 litres
per month.
Tip 3: Invest in water savings. Energy efcient front-loading clothes washers use 3550% less water and 30% less energy than standard washers. Use your clothes
washer for full loads only.
Tip 4: Upgrade older toilets with water efcient models.
Tip 5: Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets and water-saving shower
heads.
Tip 6: When washing dishes by hand, dont let the water run while rinsing. If your
dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing altogether. Newer models clean more
thoroughly than older ones.
Tip 7: Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to
water house plants.
Tip 8: Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge, as running tap water to cool it off
for drinking water is wasteful.
Tip 9: When shaving, ll the sink instead of letting the water run continuously and
save 10 to 20 litres of water each time. Also, turn off the water after you wet
your toothbrush.

Save Water Outside And Still Have

A Healthy Lawn And Garden!
Tip 1: Lawns and gardens require only 35 millimetres (~1.5 inches or enough to ll a
tuna can) of water per week during warm weather. Less is needed during spring,
fall, and cooler weather.
Tip 2: Do not over-water to compensate for expected dry periods. Soil cannot store
extra water.
Tip 3: Water lawns every three to ve days, rather than for a short period of time every
day. This will help grow deeper roots, making your lawn more tolerant to hot
summer temperatures.
Tip 4: Raise your lawn mower blade to cut grass, no lower than eight centimetres (three
inches). Longer grass also helps feed the roots, reducing the need for it to quickly
re-grow.
Tip 5: Choose water-efcient plants and consider xeriscaping. On days when it has
rained, water your lawn less and turn off your automatic irrigation system.
Tip 6: Install a rain barrel and use the water you collect for your lawn, garden, and/or
indoor plants. Collecting rainwater for watering needs uses very little energy compared to watering with treated water, which require enormous amounts of energy
to clean and pump it to your tap.
Tip 7: Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to
water plants.
Tip 9: Adjust sprinklers so that water does not run down your driveway, sidewalks,
or street.
Tip 10: Water roots rather than leaves using a drip irrigation system.
Tip 11: Adding a few inches of mulch to you gardens keeps your plants roots cool
and moist.
Tip 12: Practice grass-cycling. Rather than throwing away your lawns grass clippings,
leave them on your lawn as mulch, this will save time, money, and water.

Yellow Flag Program

The City is implementing a yellow ag program
to remind water users about the current sprinkling
regulations that are in effect. If you get a yellow ag
on your front lawn it means that you were watering
outside of the times allowed. This is not meant to be
punitive but is meant to increase awareness. It is a
simple reminder that there is watering restrictions in
place and to adjust your sprinkling accordingly.
To nd out more about our current sprinkling
regulations please visit: www.grandforks.ca