Stirling-Rawdons Chief Operator of Water and Wastewater, Matthew Richmond. (Photo/Quinte News).
No, this story isn’t about alcohol, it’s about the that life-giving resource, water.
The wells that provide drinking water to residents in the town of Stirling are quickly running dry.
And, Stirling-Rawdon councils Environmental Committee wasted no time in unanimously passing a by-law
to make it mandatory that town residents cut their water use by 50 percent.
The regulation means absolutely no car washing or lawn watering.
Businesses in Stirling that use a lot of water will be informed quickly of the regulations. Laundromats will still be allowed to operate.
The by-law could be enforced with fines as punishment for those who ignore it.
Stirling-Rawdons Chief Operator of Water and Wastewater, Matthew Richmond, says the town’s wells have been steadily dropping since spring, while residents consumption has changed very little, even though people had been asked to voluntarily lower their water use.
The wells water levels are now very close to their intake pipes.
Richmond said the danger of the town going dry was very real, adding he had no problem with issuing a recommendation that a mandatory cutback on water consumption be imposed.
Stirling-Rawdon itself has seen even less rain than most other communities in the area.
Mayor Rodney Cooney said there had only been two decent rainfalls since May and that having a dirty car would be preferable to having no water coming from taps.
In other water related news in Stirling-Rawdon, there were several leaks in the town’s water system last month, and quotes will be asked for from companies specializing in tests to locate the leaks so repairs can be quickly made.
