By Kevin Gilby

CRAIK — The Town of Craik is facing a “severe water shortage,” town foreman Jo-Anne DuBeau told councillors during last Wednesday’s town council meeting.

DuBeau told council that daily demands on the system have soared upwards of 85,000 gallons per day, up from a normal rate of about 40,000 gallons per day. She expressed grave concerns that the system will not be able to sustain that rate for more than a few days and that watering lawns was responsible for the situation.

With May having the second lowest recorded amount of rainfall in the last 10 years, council moved quickly to implement water restrictions aimed at curbing excessive demands on the water plant.

From 6 p.m. June 12 to 6 p.m. June 16, the town has placed a ban on all outside water usage including watering lawns and gardens as well as the washing of automobiles,

Once the temporary ban has been lifted, a rotating schedule will be initiated. Residents on the west side of the railway line are permitted outdoor use on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Residents on the east side are permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with Sunday being a “day of rest” where outside use is prohibited for both sides.

A typical garden hose delivers about nine gallons of water per minute, or 540 gallons per hour. The increased demand is equivalent to roughly 35 households watering lawn for two hours on a given day.

For the complete story, please see the June 15 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe.