Drought
Updated March 19, 2024
Conditions have improved moderately since mid-winter, but the Calgary region remains in a drought.
What we’re seeing
- Natural river flows are low.
- Reservoir storage in the Bow watersheds upstream from Calgary is average for this time of year. Thanks to the investment of higher gates at the Glenmore dam on the Elbow River, The City has been able to keep the Glenmore Reservoir as high as possible through the winter.
- Mountain snowpack has increased since last month and is trending at below average to average.
How we're preparing
The long-term seasonal forecast is currently predicting warmer than average temperatures this spring, which may bring an earlier snowpack melt and increased pressure on our water supply.
If dry conditions persist, outdoor water restrictions may be in place as early as May 1. We will keep citizens and businesses informed as conditions evolve and will provide an update in late April.
Working with partners to share the available water supply
The Government of Alberta is facilitating voluntary Water Sharing Agreements, where license holders co-operate to share the impacts of a water shortage by deciding how to share the available water supply.
Current drought conditions
Together, we can make every drop count during this drought
Around the house
Every time you use water inside the home there’s an opportunity to conserve water.
In your yard
Prepare your yard for dry conditions and make it as water efficient as possible.
At your business
By reducing your water use, not only are you demonstrating leadership and saving water, but it also helps businesses reduce energy and maintenance costs.
Each business is different, and you know your business best. Here are a few resources to help you get started.
Review your water use
Identify areas of your business where water consumption is highest to see if there are potential water saving opportunities.
Identify potential water-saving opportunities
- Check your plumbing system for leaks.
- Consider installing water-efficient fixtures and equipment.
- Remind your staff about using water wisely.
- Report dripping taps and running toilets to your building manager.
- Keep post-workout and after-travel showers to five minutes.
- Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them.
- Only run the dishwasher when full.
Doing our part
In response to this year’s conditions, across our City operations, we’re taking steps to make every drop count and further reduce our water use. This includes:
City parks and buildings
- Outdoor decorative fountains will run on reduced schedules or turned off completely.
- We will reduce outdoor watering of flowers, turf in parks (where possible) and sports fields.
- Watering of newly planted trees or turf will continue at a reduced rate.
- Where stormwater reuse is available, we’ll be using it to water young trees, flower baskets and some City golf courses.
- Our City golf courses are looking at various way to minimize water use and increase water retention including changes in irrigation scheduling and mowing practices.
City vehicles
- Exterior washing of City vehicles and buses will be limited to health and safety considerations.
City infrastructure
- We’re accelerating our water loss reduction program to detect and fix leaks.
Understanding droughts in Calgary
Calgary is a dry climate, but because of our proximity to the mountains we can experience unpredictable swings in the weather from heavy rains to many weeks of dry temperatures and little rain.
A drought is when there is less water available over a large physical area for a long period of time. It happens when precipitation (i.e. rain/snow), river flow and ground water are below average levels.
Key facts
-
Unlike floods, which can happen very quickly, droughts typically develop slowly over time.
-
Calgary is most at risk of experiencing the effects of a drought from mid-July to the end of September.
-
A drought can last anywhere from weeks to multiple years if the region is consistently not getting enough moisture.
How we prepare for droughts
Building resiliency to flood and drought is a top priority for The City as climate modelling tells us that Calgary will experience more severe and frequent extreme weather events such as flooding and droughts.
Monitoring conditions
We monitor our watershed conditions year-round and increase monitoring from mid-May to mid-September where there is an increased risk of flooding and drought.
We look at many indicators to help us predict if a drought may happen, how severe it could become and to inform our response. Some of these indicators include:
- River flows
- Mountain snowpack
- Reservoir levels and storage throughout the basin, and projected water demand
- Soil moisture
- Weather forecasts
Along with drought risk, a rapid swing to high rainfall could still lead to river flooding conditions in the spring. We continue to closely monitor conditions, while taking steps to be ready for both drought, flood, or other climate risks such as extreme heat that can make drought worse, and lead to wildfires and smoke.
Our planned response
The information we collect through our monitoring helps us carefully manage water storage at the Glenmore Reservoir and other City-owned infrastructure. The City also collaborates with Alberta Environment and Parks, and partners such as TransAlta and downstream Irrigation Districts to manage water supply and demand along the Bow River.
If drought conditions persist and a significant supply shortage exists, The City would implement one of the four stages of outdoor water restrictions to ensure there is enough water to meet Calgary’s essential needs, including water for drinking and fighting fires, as well as to support our neighbours and river health.
Planning for the future
Drought Resilience Plan
Our long-term water supply and efficiency plans factor in the effects of a drought. We’ve also updated our Drought Resilience Plan (approved by Council in October 2023) that sets the long-term direction for building a city where our residents, ecosystems, and businesses are prepared to withstand and recover from the impacts of prolonged periods of dry conditions and water shortages.