By Jamie Rieger

Following negotiations with CFB Suffield, Cypress County has been allowed an increase in their water allocation for the hamlet, but residents are still being encouraged to be mindful of their water consumption.

"We have been allocated an increase from the agreement amount, but we have to get people to start using less water," said Cypress County manager, Lutz Perschon.

"Alberta Environment would like to see 500 cubic liters per day, but they are respectful of our hot, dry climate," he added.

The new agreement allows Cypress County to lift a moratorium on future development that was put in place because of a shortage of water.

"The issue is to remover the moratorium so we can move ahead with development," said Perschon, adding that moratoriums are currently in place in Irvine and Walsh.

Under the terms of the new agreement with CFB Suffield, 7,500 cubic meters per month will be allocated, up from the 4,800 cubic meters under the previous agreement. The increase should not encourage Suffield residents to use more water, however, as they have been exceeding the allotment under the previous agreement.

"Alberta Environment has set guidelines for how much water and the rough target per day is 500 liters per capita It all sounds good, but it gets convoluted because we have been exceeding our allocation in Suffield. For example, in 2007, which was a dry summer, they were at 7,400 cubic meters per month, which is not much less than what they will be allowed now,”  he said.

The increase would allow Cypress County to further allow residential development and could accommodate up to 300 residents. Suffield currently has a population of 224.

The allocation is also only for residences and will not be allowed for future business development in the hamlet.

"Alberta Environment does not allow for industrial or commercial development. This is only for residential water use," said Perschon.