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Watering schedule

The watering schedule for your lawns, gardens, trees, and shrubs is designed to allow watering in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. This helps reduce evaporation and allows water to soak into the soil more effectively, promoting healthier, stronger plants. The odd/even system helps balance water demand throughout the week and ensures each customer has an equal number of watering days each month. Not permitting watering on Fridays gives reservoirs a chance to replenish ahead of the weekend, when water demand is typically highest.

Regular watering schedule

Connected sprinklers and automated irrigation systems

Addresses ending in an Even number (0,2,4,6,8)	Addresses ending in an ODD number (1,3,5,7,9)
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 12 a.m - 10 a.m. 7 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.	Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday 12 a.m - 10 a.m. 7 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.

Hand watering flowers, trees and shrubs:
can be hand watered any day with the regular watering schedule.
Kiddie pool and sprinkler use for children: kids can run through the sprinkler on any day with the regular watering schedule.

Why limit water consumption?

Water is a finite resource that needs to be protected. The Bow Glacier that feeds the Bow and Elbow Rivers has experienced significant depletion over the past few decades. The City gets our water from Calgary, who sources it from these rivers. Watering during the scheduled times (early in the morning or late at night) will reduce evaporation and allow water to soak into the soil and reach grass and plant roots.

Water use exception permits and smart irrigation

If you have installed sod, grass seed or have a smart irrigation system, you may be eligible and can apply for a no-cost water use exception permit to use water outside of the watering schedule.

Permit TYPE	Length valid
Sod Installed on your entire front and/or back yard	21 days
Seed Does not apply to overseeding Installed on your entire front and/or back yard	45 days
Smart irrigation Monitors conditions and adjusts run times based on water requirements Adjusts the schedule based on weather conditions Physical rain sensors (not weather monitoring within the app) or moisture sensors at your property that delay watering if rain is detected	Until Dec 31 each year

Apply for a water use exception permit

Fixed water rates

Your fixed service rate covers the water service to your home and maintenance of water service infrastructure so it doesn’t go down based on consumption.

What to do if you will not be home during the designated watering times

We’d recommend getting a water timer to put on your hose. You can get them at most hardware stores.

Tips to help grass thrive

Studies have shown that watering less creates stronger grass but some other tips for great grass are:

Only water when you need to. An established lawn only requires about one inch of water a week.
TIP: place a Frisbee® upside down on the lawn and only water until it’s full.
Leave grass 3” long to prevent scorching and water evaporation
Grass-cycle – mulching leaves your grass clippings on the lawn, providing extra nutrients and helps to retain moisture.

Why the City may water when it’s raining

There are a few sites in Airdrie where stormwater is used to irrigate greenspaces, separate from the potable water irrigation system. These sites are not linked to rain sensors and may be irrigated during or immediately after rain. This can be an effective measure to prevent salt present in stormwater from building up in the soil to protect long-term soil quality. This may also occur if the amount of rain isn’t enough to trip the automatic settings in the park's smart irrigation system.

Hydrant flushing

Water mains are flushed prior to restoring water services to residents. This process flushes sediment from the lines and is required by the Province. All publicly owned hydrants are flushed and tested in the spring by the Airdrie Fire Department to meet the National Fire Protection Act standard.