Businesses, residents asked to conserve water as treatment plants face challenges

By Lethbridge Herald on June 2, 2026.

Herald photo by ALEJANDRA PULIDO-GUZMAN
The Old Man River can be seen flowing at a higher level than usual Monday afternoon following heavy rain over the weekend.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

The City of Lethbridge is asking residents and businesses to conserve water as heavy rainfall is creating challenges in the water and wastewater treatment plants. 

General manager of Water, Wastewater, and Electric Utilities for the city of Lethbridge, Jason Drenth explained that over the last few days, heavy rainfalls washed a large amount of mud and debris into the Old Man River, and this is creating some challenges for the city of Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant. 

“One of the main things we want to stress is the water is clean and safe to drink, even though we are having some challenges down there,” said Drenth.  

He said to protect and maintain the safe treatment standards, water production has had to be reduced. 

“What this means is, we’re currently producing water at less than current demand. So, we’re making that demand up using our storage reservoirs across the city,” said Drenth. “But in order to help keep our system running smoothly over the next few days, the city of Lethbridge is asking everyone, residents, and businesses, to cut back on any nonessential water use.” 

He said this includes, but is not limited to, washing your car, restricting indoor use to essential purposes like drinking and cooking, keeping showers short, and delaying laundry and the use of dishwashers. 

“And please, don’t stockpile water,” said Drenth. “If everybody goes out and starts filling up bottles, jugs, pots and pans, it really floods the system, which could actually aggravate the water treatment plant that much more.”

When talking about the difference it makes when residents conserve water, Drenth said going back two years ago, when the city was in drought conditions and during the summertime asked residents to conserve water, it made a significant difference. 

“We were seeing 10 to 15 per cent reductions in water usage through that time. So, it does make a difference. Every little drop helps,” said Drenth. “At the same time, the city departments are also suspending non-essential water using activities and reducing internal consumption where appropriate.” 

He said these measures will stay in place until further notice and added that teams at both plants continue to monitor conditions and are striving to make sure we get through this without any major service disruptions.

“At the wastewater treatment plant, conditions are currently stable right now. We do have a lot of runoff that comes from a system like this, but in some respects, it actually helps us, because it reduces the strength of the water going into the plant,” said Drenth. 

He said the water coming in from the rain is a lot cleaner than what they get from residents and industries. And therefore, it helps a little bit, but to a point.

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