Spring Water Update: Help Conserve in 2025

With the warmer weather all around us, and everything greening up nicely, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide a water update.

There are three southern Alberta reservoirs that feed the Oldman watershed. Here are their storage levels as of the morning of May 23:

• Oldman Reservoir: 65 per cent full (below normal)
• St. Mary Reservoir: 82 per cent full (above normal)
• Waterton Reservoir: 48 per cent full (normal)

At first glance, these numbers seem encouraging. And they aren’t terrible! However, the Oldman Reservoir is the largest of the three and the one that feeds Lethbridge. While it has more storage than a year ago (when it was at 53 per cent) it remains below normal for this time of year. The City updates reservoir levels every Friday here.

The mountains that feed the Oldman Reservoir also saw less snow than last year and the overall snowpack is below normal. That means less runoff feeding the rivers and streams in the Oldman watershed. The Oldman River Basin, including Lethbridge, is provincially listed as in Drought Stage 3: Severe Drought.

Environment Canada’s spring and summer forecast shows a higher-than-average temperature for the start of the summer. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has also issued a water supply outlook of “much below average” for May through September.

So, what does this all mean? We need your help again! As a city, we remain under voluntary water restrictions. We ask everyone to please continue to look for ways to reduce water waste. In 2024, water consumption in Lethbridge dropped by an astounding 14 per cent compared to 2023 volumes. We know you can do it again! Making a conscious effort to reduce your daily water usage has great effects on the overall city consumption.

The City will again be doing its part to reduce water waste. You will see some differences in how and where we use water over the summer.

Stay tuned, because in the coming weeks we will share helpful tips and tricks to reduce your daily water use. From identifying and fixing leaks, upgrading to low-flow options or maybe even winning a rain barrel, you might see something that catches your eye and motivates you to reduce your overall water use. We look forward to seeing and hearing how you’re making a difference!

For more information on all things water conservation, including how to make your very own rain barrel, visit https://www.lethbridge.ca/waterconservation.

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