Less snowpack, low rainfall, higher demand. Experts offer answers on low water levels in Lethbridge

Water levels in the Oldman River reservoir are the lowest they've ever been since its construction in the early 1990s.

The reservoir and the river are responsible for supplying water to a number of local communities, including Lethbridge.

The City of Lethbridge said in a releasethat while there's no immediate danger of being left without an adequate supply of drinkable water in the city, the lower-than-average water levels across southern Alberta is something they are watching closely.

"The City of Lethbridge is monitoring reservoir levels and works with the provincial government to assure our community water supply," said Doug Kaupp, general manager of water and wastewater services.

"There is no current risk, but we continue to plan and prepare and certainly acknowledge the need for significant precipitation in the months ahead," he added.

Meanwhile, the City of Lethbridge is working hard to ensure there is an adequate water supply across the region.

For instance, in August, the city requested residents to use water wisely and conserve it whenever possible. Since then, peak water consumption in the area has been reduced by 20 per cent.

However, Kaupp believes that there may be some challenges in store next year.

"We have restriction plans that, if necessary, we can implement to help make the necessary reductions depending on what the supply looks like," he told CBC News in an interview.

"It's not inconceivable that this coming year will be the first time that there's some hardship because of water supply, but it really hinges on what we get for snow this winter."

According to Kaupp, a huge chunk of the water supply is used for irrigation a little over 95 per cent, to be precise. Only about three per centis used by the city.

Kaupp anticipates that a potential water shortage could heavily impact agricultural projects as well as the local community.

Less snowpack is a matter of concern

Why are the water levels in the reservoir so low, though?

Less snowpack is a major reason, according to Shannon Frank, executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council, a non-partisan advisory organization partnered with government that focuses on industry, agriculture, and issues related to water use in the region.

"The majority of our water in southwest Alberta actually comes from snow melt in the mountains, about 90 per cent," Frank said.

"The current drought situation is a combination of things. So we had less snowpack than we would like to have it was very sporadic. So some mountains had quite a bit of snow and other mountains had less. But all in all, what it meant was some of our reservoirs weren't as full as we'd like them to be."

What made matters worse was a lack of adequate precipitation over the summer, according to Frank, who said that less rainfall led to higher demand and more irrigation.

"Now we have to wait and see," Frank said. "Are we going to get a good snowpack this year and fill[the reservoirs] up again? That's kind of the annual cycle that we're used to and that we rely on."