Scorching weather has prompted two very different responses from area municipalities.
In Sylvan Lake, a water ban was instituted mid-morning Monday.
The ban includes “all forms of outdoor water use”.
A media release stated warm temperatures, the influx of tourists and summer visitors, and current limits on infrastructure have “put immense pressure on town reservoirs, and mean that residents will have to refrain from all outdoor water usage”.
The only exception is for new lawns where residents who recently planted are “asked to hand water only after 7 p.m. and before noon”.
At Monday night’s council meeting, David Brand, director of public works, said people can still hand water their plants and shrubs.
While the ban is directed at outdoor water use, the town asked all residents and businesses to conserve indoor water use as much as possible.
The ban remains in effect until further notice.
High temperatures have created dry conditions which can easily lead to grass or brush fires growing out of control.
As a result Red Deer County issued a fire ban for the entire county Monday, said District Fire Chief Tom Metzger in a release.
For the most current information on fire bans, advisories and forest closures check https://albertafirebans.ca/.