As most people are aware, Charlottetown gets its water supply from outside the city limits. 2 of the 3 tributaries supplying this water have dried up.

My question is why have measures not been put in place to curb people's water use?

As a sidebar, how selfish/irresponsible do you have to be to have a lawn sprinkler going for hours when it is quite evident we are experiencing very dry conditions.

Some people would rather have a pretty lawn than drinking water. People just use the noggin they were given.

Maybe PEI should consider pricing a water desalination system. If we have another winter with low snowfall and another summer of almost drought conditions, our rivers will most likely run dry. We are surrounded by water but can't drink it but they have them in other countries.

The city dragged its feet long enough on the separation of sewer lines because of the money. There's no way they will ever get a desalination system put in place.

You will notice all the city flower beds on corners have nice, big, full non thirsty flowers. Why would you expect residents to reduce their water usage when the city doesn't.

I believe the city uses grey water for those.

What is grey water?

If that is the case, and I'm not doubting it is, the city should make it known to people. Both to set an example and to show they are doing something environmentally friendly.

I found out about it via the news, either the guardian or CBC, but can't find the story at this moment. However, they did make it known that they were taking conservation measures, they also said that the fire dept was asked to stop doing any training involving water for the time being as well, and that they would not be washing the city vehicles.

Interesting....tks

I find it interesting that earlier this year we had a thread about water metering in ch'town and one or two posters were basically saying it was not needed as we have endless ground water. One hot, dry summer and poof illusion of endless water gone.

When we empty the dehumidifier (twice a day lately) we pour it into buckets and use the water for our potted plants on the deck. You can also use dishwater and water left in kettles etc. Just try to remember what you could use it for, rather than pouring it down the sink.

I wash clothes less often now and take fewer showers. We don't need daily long showers or baths when we can wash ourselves using basins or by filling the sink. Conserve water as if you were on a hiking trip in the woods and you will get an idea. Always carry wet ones, as they are great to clean up in a hurry and don't use any water.

All our lakes are dying from pollution, manure and sewage runoff, chemical spills, etc. Nobody can live without water and it is not a renewable resource if we don't protect its purity.

Bermuda has specially designed roofs with tiles that direct the water into a cistern within the house, which supplies all their household water supplies. Granted they probably receive more rain than PEI but they don't have wells or groundwater as the island is composed or coral and lava.

Looks like we might receive rain on Friday, oddly the only day we don't want it to, on the Gold Cup Parade Day. Put out your buckets and containers to catch the rain for your plants.

Conserve every drop!!!!

I saw it as well on the news I believe about a month ago:

Geniebot great tips about the water re-use. I usually drain my water out of the dehumidifier into the sink, will reuse it now!

im in the country on a well and we are even conserving water where we can. i think everyone should no matter where they are and also collecting rain water is a great idea..gonnna look more into doin that thanx for the info some have given in this link

even worse.....running sprinklers during the day when the water is evaporating in the Sun.....ignorant?

In the paper this morning they report that the City will be making it madatory metered water... I say bring it on I will save money then...

Not exactly dragged their feet. They tried for about a year to shake some funds out of the Ottawa Tree then gave up. Before that, the project wasn't really on the radar. Sure there were shell-fishers who kept raising the flag over the last few years, but the city had the drainage and sewer separate, then some idiot pushed to combine them (Source: Eddie Rice at the Miltonvale Water and Sewage proposal to join Charlottetown Water and Sewer meeting - July 2011). That was costly enough. The push to separate them again came when Ottawa dropped the order on Charlottetown to clean up the overflow problem. By then Lee was already trying Ottawa anticipating the order to clean up the harbour threat.

Here's a quick solution: lets stop washing our garbage. Really, though, how yuppie are we to be washing our garbage with fresh drinking water? Sigh.