York Region issues Stage 2 Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Ban for Aurora, Newmarket, Oak Ridges and Maple communities

 

Residents can visit York Region website or call Hotline for up-to-date information

 

NEWMARKET – The Regional Municipality of York yesterday issued a Stage 2 Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Ban for the towns of Aurora, Newmarket, the community of Oak Ridges in the Town of Richmond Hill and the community of Maple in the City of Vaughan.

 

Oak Ridges is bounded by Bloomington Road, Leslie Street, Stouffville Road/Jefferson Sideroad and Bathurst Street.  Maple is bounded by Kirby Sideroad, Bathurst Street, Rutherford Road and Weston Road.

 

The Regional Municipality of York has also established an information website and a phone hotline to provide residents with up-to-date information on outdoor water use.

 

Up-to-date information on outdoor water use in York Region can be accessed through the following:

·         York Region website at www.york.ca and click on the Stage 2 Water Ban icon

·         York Region’s Water Hotline at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 5298 (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday)

 

The Stage 2 Ban has been issued following continued decline in water reserves throughout the weekend.

 

A Stage 2 Mandatory Outdoor Water Ban states no person shall use municipal water from a hose, pipe, sprinkler or permanent irrigation system for the purposes of watering lawns or gardens, washing vehicles, sidewalks or driveways and filling or topping up swimming pools.  Residents can be fined up to $5,000 for lawn watering in accordance with the municipal bylaw.

 

A Stage 2 Ban is issued when water reservoir levels decline to 50 per cent capacity.

 

The Regional Municipality of York has also issued a Stage 1 Outdoor Water Use Advisory for the remainder of York Region.

 

A Stage 1 Advisory requests all persons refrain from using municipal water from a hose, pipe, sprinkler or permanent irrigation system for the purposes of watering lawns or gardens, washing vehicles, sidewalks or driveways, and filling or topping up swimming pools.

 

A Stage 1 Advisory is issued when water reservoir levels decline to 70 per cent.

 

On June 15^th, the Region asked residents to practice water conservation.  However, water levels continue to decline due primarily to hot, humid and dry weather this month, resulting in increased outdoor water use.

 

Through co-operation, it is hoped that York Region will be able to remove the Stage 2 Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Ban in the towns of Aurora, Newmarket, the community of Oak Ridges in the Town of Richmond Hill and the community of Maple in the City of Vaughan once water reserves have returned to a safe level. 

 

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, please visit www.york.ca

 

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