Charlottetown water restrictions in effect

Charlottetown's seasonal water use restrictions came into effect on Saturday, and will remain in place until Sep. 30.

The restrictions include limiting the watering of lawns to between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., or 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., to a maximum of two hours a day. Hosing down of hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways is prohibited while the restrictions are in place.

Utilities project officer Ramona Doyle said initial offences will bring warnings, but harsh measure are available for repeat offenders.

"We do have authority in our rules and regulations that if someone was repeatedly violating the water restrictions that we do have the authority to shut their water off," said Doyle.

"We would hope that we would not get to that point and that for the most part either a reminder or a letter would get them to follow the restrictions."

The province created the seasonal restrictions last year when officials noticed an increase in water use in June. Stress on the city's main source of water, the Winter River watershed, was made worse by a drought.

The city can, at its discretion, implement water shortage restrictions that further limit water use by residents.