The 12-metre tall Mr. Applehead at The Big Apple on Highway 401 in Colborne in Northumberland County is now sporting a big yellow face mask. You can't tell, but he's still smiling under the mask. (Photo: The Big Apple / @bigapple401 on Instagram)
Even the world’s biggest apple is doing its part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, with what could be the world’s biggest face mask.
Mr. Applehead, at The Big Apple just off Highway 401 in Colborne in Northumberland County, is now sporting a big yellow face mask.
Sylvia Nagy, general manager of The Big Apple, says the business decided to put a mask on Mr. Applehead on Thursday (July 23) because face masks are now mandatory inside commercial businesses in Northumberland County, and also to show support for front-line workers.
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Nagy and The Big Apple’s owner Joe Pulla came up with the idea for the mask, which Nagy designed, and installed it with the help of employees.
The iconic giant apple’s mask, easily visible from the highway, has attracted attention in national and social media.
People have been pulling off the highway to take photos with the masked Mr. Applehead — something The Big Apple encourages.
The Big Apple is a bakery and restaurant which, in addition to the Mr. Applehead roadside attraction, features fresh-based pies (including apple, of course) and family-friendly activities and games.
Built in 1988, Mr. Applehead is more than 12 metres tall and features a top observation deck with spectacular views. Appropriately enough, the observation deck is currently closed because of COVID-19 restrictions.
For more information on The Big Apple, visit thebigapple.ca.
Environment Canada has issued another heat warning for the greater Kawarthas region, including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Hastings County, through Monday (July 27).
This is the third heat warning issued by Environment Canada for the Kawarthas so far in July.
Hot and humid conditions are expected on Sunday and Monday.
Maximum daytime temperatures on Sunday will be 32 to 34°C with humidex values near 40°C. Minimum temperatures Sunday night will be 22 to 25°C, providing little relief from the heat.
High temperatures on Monday are forecast to be 30 to 32°C. Humidex values near 40°C are also expected on Monday.
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Cooler and less humid air is expected to arrive on Tuesday (July 28).
Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and result in the air quality health index approaching the high-risk category.
Extreme heat affects everyone, but the risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and people working or exercising outdoors.
Check on older family, friends and neighbours. Make sure they are cool and drinking water
Reduce your heat risk. Schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day.
Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.
Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks in a cool place.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region as well as in Ontario.
After a decrease yesterday, new COVID-19 cases in Ontario have jumped higher again, to 195. The number of new daily cases is continuing to trend up, to levels not seen since early July.
Younger people continue to represent the majority of new cases. Of the 195 new cases, two-thirds (128) are among people under the age of 39, with a quarter of the new cases under the age of 19. Only eight per cent of new cases (16) are among people age 60 and older, with the remainder of new cases people between 40 and 59.
Compare that to the end of May, when almost half of all cases were people age 60 and older, and only one-quarter were people under the age of 39 — with only three per cent under the age of 19.
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As for the Kawarthas, there are no new cases in the Peterborough area for the 34th day in a row, with all previous cases resolved. There are no new cases to report today in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Prince Edward and Hastings counties. Two additional cases have been resolved in Kawartha Lakes, with one additional case resolved in Northumberland and one additional case resolved in Haliburton — all previous cases in Haliburton are now resolved.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 174 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (153 are resolved), 25 in Northumberland County (24 resolved), 12 in Haliburton County (12 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (38 resolved).
There has been a total of 39 deaths in the greater Kawarthas region since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 38,405 confirmed cases, an increase of 195 from yesterday’s report, with 34,100 (88.8% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 137. There have been 2,758 deaths, an increase of 3, with 1,791 deaths reported in long-term care homes, an increase of 2. A total of 1,988,909 tests have been completed, an increase of 28,809 from yesterday, with 25,550 tests under investigation, an increase of 3,725.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20) Active cases: 0 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 93 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 20,500 (no change)* Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*Due to recent changes in Ministry of Health data, this number will be updated the week of July 27.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit only provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 211, including 174 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (no change) Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 189, including 153 in Kawartha Lakes, 24 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (increase of 4, with 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 each in Northumberland and Haliburton) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit only provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 38 (no change) Total tests completed: 16,085 (increase of 513) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 38,405 (increase of 195) Resolved: 34,100 (increase of 137, 88.8% of all cases are resolved) Hospitalized: 141 (decrease of 13) Hospitalized and in ICU: 31 (decrease of 4) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 20 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2,758 (increase of 3) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,791 (increase of 2, 64.9% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,988,909 (increase of 28,809) Tests under investigation: 25,550 (increase of 3,725)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 23 – July 23, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from June 23 – July 230, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Two photos of 55-year-old Robert Smith of Scarborough, who had gone missing in the Minden area of Haliburton County on July 22, 2020. On July 26, police were called to the north end of Minden Lake where a resident had located a male body near their dock. Police have confirmed the body is that of Smith. (OPP-supplied photos)
Robert Smith, a 55-year-old Scarborough man whose body was found in Minden Lake on Sunday (July 26), was the same person who was a convicted child pornography offender according to media reports.
Global News says a source with the Toronto Police Service has confirmed that Robert Smith is the same person who was sentenced to 20 months in prison and three years of probation after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography.
Smith had been arrested again in June on two counts of distribution of child pornography, and three counts each of possession of child pornography and access child pornography.
Smith was an actor who was best known as portraying a loud-mouth Scotsman in commercials for Alexander Keith’s beer in 2006. He was married with two children.
On July 23, officers from the Haliburton OPP were called in to assist the Toronto Police Service in locating Smith, who had been last seen on Wednesday (July 22) in the Minden area.
OPP officers had located the missing man’s motorcycle in an overflow parking lot off of Horseshoe Lake Road in the Township of Minden Hills.
The OPP’s Central Region Emergency Response Team, Canine Unit, Aviation Services, and Underwater Search and Recovery Unit and Marine patrols began searching the area.
On Sunday (July 26) around 5:30 p.m., police were called to the north end of Minden Lake where a resident had located a male body near their dock. They subsequently confirmed the body to be that of Smith.
A post-mortem examination will be scheduled at the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service in Toronto.
Investigators do not suspect foul play in the death investigation.
This story has been updated with information that Smith was a convicted child porn offender.
The beach at Sandy Lake in Trent Lakes. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, going to the beach is a different experience this year. Public health officials recommend staying home if you feel sick, visiting a beach close to your home to avoid unnecessary travel, bringing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and maintaining at least two metres of physical distance from other beachgoers.
As of Thursday, July 30th, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Hastings Waterfront North in Northumberland County (based on July 27 sample)
Omemee Beach in City of Kawartha Lakes (based on July 20 sample)
Bewdley Optimist Park in Northumberland County (based on July 20 sample)
The following beaches are closed until further notice due to COVID-19:
Crowe Bridge Park in Trent Hills (Northumberland County)
Victoria Park in Cobourg (Northumberland County)
Little Lake in Cramahe (Northumberland County)
Sandy Bay Beach in Alnwick Haldimand (Northumberland County)
Hiwartha in Hiawatha First Nation (Peterborough County)
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
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Peterborough City/County
City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)
Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St, Peterborough) – sample date 28-Jul-2020 – SAFE
Public health nurse Julie Brandsma dons a mask as she prepares to test a patient for COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region as well as in Ontario.
After a small rise in the number of new daily cases over the past week, the Ontario government is reporting 103 new cases today — the lowest increase since July 15 — with no increase in deaths. Of the 34 public health units in Ontario, 28 are reporting five or fewer cases and 21 are reporting no new cases at all. However, the province is also reporting 154 hospitalizations, an increase of 26 from yesterday.
As for the Kawarthas, Peterborough Public Health is reporting no new cases for the 33rd day in a row. The other two health units in the region — Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health — only provide reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; the next reports will be available on July 24.
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Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 174 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (151 are resolved), 25 in Northumberland County (23 resolved), 12 in Haliburton County (11 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (38 resolved).
There has been a total of 39 deaths in the greater Kawarthas region since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 38,210 confirmed cases, an increase of 103 from yesterday’s report, with 33,963 (88.9% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 151. There have been 2,755 deaths, no change from yesterday, with 1,789 deaths reported in long-term care homes, an increase of 1 (as the province is reporting no new deaths today, this appears to be a data adjustment). A total of 1,960,100 tests have been completed, an increase of 26,001 from yesterday, with 21,825 tests under investigation, an increase of 2,944.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20) Active cases: 0 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 93 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 20,500 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit only provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 22; the next report will be available on July 24.
Confirmed positive: 211, including 174 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton) Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 185, including 151 in Kawartha Lakes, 23 in Northumberland, 11 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Haliburton) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit only provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 22; the next report will be available on July 24.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18) Probable cases: 181 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 38 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 15,572 (increase of 1,041) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 38,210 (increase of 103) Resolved: 33,963 (increase of 151, 88.9% of all cases are resolved) Hospitalized: 154 (increase of 26) Hospitalized and in ICU: 35 (decrease of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 21 (increase of 2) Deaths: 2,755 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,789 (increase of 1, 64.9% of all deaths)* Total tests completed 1,960,100 (increase of 26,001) Tests under investigation: 21,825 (increase of 2,944)
*As the province is reporting no new deaths today, this increase appears to be a data adjustment.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 22 – July 22, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from June 22 – July 220, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Peterborough Police Service headquarters on Water Street in Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Trudeau)
A Peterborough police officer has sustained non-life threatening injuries after attempting to help a woman in downtown Peterborough who police say was in crisis and threatening self-harm.
In a media release, the Peterborough Police Service states that, shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Thursday morning (July 23), police received a call regarding a woman in the area of Water and Hunter Streets who was threatening self-harm and experiencing a mental health crisis.
When the officer arrived on the scene and located the woman, the release states, she pulled out a box cutter and held it to her neck.
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The media release states the officer had a very brief moment to intervene and prevent the woman from harming herself.
“During the incident, as the officer was attempting to help the woman, the officer sustained injuries from the box cutter,” the media release states.
A cell phone video taken by a witness and posted publicly on Facebook shows part of the interaction between the woman and the officer. In the video, the officer appears to suddenly grab the woman and force her to the ground. (That video has since been made unavailable.)
Police say the officer was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment and was released. The woman was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for crisis treatment.
Police say no further details will be released about the incident.
This story has been updated to remove a video embedded from Facebook, as the user changed the visibility from public to private, and to remove a screenshot from the video.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini, Ontario municipal affairs and housing minister Steve Clark, Canada's social development minister parliamentary secretary Adam Vaughan, and Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence participated in a joint federal and provincial announcement on July 23, 2020 of over $5.7 million to build 28 community housing units in Cobourg. (Photo: Office of MPP David Piccini)
The governments of Canada and Ontario are committing more than $5.7 million to build 28 community housing units in Cobourg, providing homes for individuals and families across Northumberland County. All of the units will be affordable rent-geared-to-income housing.
The announcement of the funding, which took place on Thursday (July 23) at the proposed site for the Elgin Park redevelopment on Elgin Street East in Cobourg, was made by Spadina-Fort York MP Adam Vaughan, parliamentary secretary to Canada’s minister of families, children and social development and minster responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, along with Ontario municipal affairs and housing minister Steve Clark.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini and Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence also participated in the announcement.
“The Elgin Park redevelopment project is an important part of the solution to help build more homes that are truly affordable in Northumberland, something my community greatly needs and a project I strongly support,” Piccini said.
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The Elgin Park redevelopment site currently hosts nine semi-detached buildings, with 18 community housing units. The new complex will have four two-storey buildings with a total of 40 units, creating 22 new homes.
“These new units are more than just safe and affordable places to live, they are key to a better life for the residents who call them home,” Vaughan said.
The redevelopment will include a shared green space with a playground and recreational area for families, as well us a common building with a large programming room, universal washroom, kitchenette, and office space for private meetings between tenants and staff or community agencies.
There will be a mix of multi-bedroom and one-bedroom units, with at least 20 per cent of the units accessible, and all other ground floor units will be designed to be easily retrofitted into fully accessible units if needed in the future.
The funding will be delivered through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative, which will fund 28 of the new units.
“Supporting the Elgin Park redevelopment project is one way our government is working to make our community housing system more efficient and sustainable, and to ensure that people can access the affordable housing and supports they need today, and in the years to come,” Clark said.
Children enter this water from the beach at Beavermead Park in Peterborough during a past Dr. Shufelt's Kids Triathlon. Organizers have cancelled the popular fundraising event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Dr. Shufelt's Kids Triathlon / Facebook)
Hundreds of kids won’t be running, cycling, and swimming at Beavermead Park this summer raising funds for a local charity.
Due to COVID-19 public health restrictions, organizers have cancelled the popular Dr. Shufelt’s Kids Triathlon, which annually sees 250 children between the ages of two and 12 competing in a triathlon, with the goal of promoting healthy active living in children.
Dr. Katy Shufelt, an interventional cardiologist at Peterborough Regional Health Centre who is also an advocate for physical activity and wellness, has sponsored the event since 2010.
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“It is my favourite day of the year and I will miss the excitement of race day,” Dr. Shufelt says in a media release on Wednesday (July 22) announcing the cancellation.
“However, I am delighted to see many families finding more time during the pandemic to walk, run and cycle together. This challenging time has given us new opportunities to explore our beautiful local trails, waterways and parks.”
Despite the cancellation of the event, Dr. Shufelt is encouraging children to be active this summer.
“It’s important to stay active and strong which will help your immune system fight off any bad colds or flus you come in contact with. Healthy kids equals healthy hearts.”
Over the years, the triathlon has raised more than $25,000 for local charities. In lieu of this year’s event, Dr. Shufelt will be making a $2,500 donation to Food for Kids, a non-profit organization that helps support student nutrition programs in the Peterborough area.
Even though schools have been closed throughout the pandemic, Food for Kids has continued to work with school principals, Kawartha Food Share, Youth Emergency Shelter, and local food companies.
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“The work has definitely not stopped,”, says Angela Fuchs from Food for Kids. “We are finding alternative ways to deliver healthy food to kids and families that need it while schools are closed.”
To help reduce water usage outside your home, plant native drought-tolerant plants like this black-eyed Susan. It's a good way to help your garden stay beautiful, even during a drought. (Photo: GreenUP)
On July 7th, Otonabee Conservation declared a Level 2 Low Water Condition for the Otonabee region watershed due to a combination of high temperatures, low precipitation, and low surface water levels. The declaration recommends residents of the Peterborough area reduce their water use by 20 per cent.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jenn McCallum, Water Programs Coordinator at GreenUP.
In this week’s article, we focus on reducing outdoor water usage and the positive benefits this can have in times of drought.
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Rain barrels are an excellent way to conserve water to use for your plants during droughts. They can be purchased at the GreenUP store, with Peterborough Utilities customers receiving an automatic discount of $25. (Photo: GreenUP)
“When we reduce our outdoor water use, we all benefit,” points out Dan Marinigh, Otonabee Conservation’s chief administrative officer.
“It is possible for households to reduce their outdoor water consumption by making some simple changes like installing a rain barrel, and by changing some habits like letting your lawn go dormant during the summer, or sweeping the driveway instead of washing it with a hose. We can all make small shifts in our lives to help conserve water.”
As we learned in part one of our series, the average Ontario citizen consumes 225 litres of water per day, while in Peterborough, the average city resident consumes 322 litres per day.
In general, our household water use increases 20 to 25 per cent in the summer due to outdoor water use.
During low-water conditions we need to water our gardens and plants efficiently and do our best to reduce evaporation. One of the best ways to do this is to water our plants in a way that helps return water to its original source. However, keep in mind that taking water from nearby streams can actually impact their ecological function as well as other water users, according to Otonabee Conservation. That’s why we must always follow best practices for water use and conservation during dry spells.
Here are 10 tips to help you conserve water outdoors during a drought, while still keeping yourself and your plants healthy.
1. Let your lawn go dormant in the summer
There’s no need to water your lawn if it looks like this. It’s dormant and, once the rain returns, so too will the green grass. (Photo: Leif Einarson / GreenUP)
Has your grass turned a yellow or brown colour and dried up? If so, then this means your grass has gone dormant and you are doing your part to save water.
Just leave your lawn alone, because this dormancy is normal for your grass in the summertime. Once it rains again, your grass will revive itself and be green again.
2. Mow high
If your lawn is dormant, do not mow it. But the next time your grass is green and you wish to mow it, set your mower higher.
Mow to 5 to 6 cm (2 inches) in height. This will help keep the roots strong and support the vigour of the grass stems.
3. Water your garden early in the morning or late at night to avoid the heat of the day
Watering early or late in the day (between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.) will reduce evaporation, allowing the plants more time to absorb the water.
Focus on watering the roots, because this is where the plants take in the water.
4. Use a rain barrel to store water for watering your plants
Rain barrels are available from the GreenUP Store, both in person and via our online store at shop.greenup.on.ca with curbside pickup. Peterborough Utilities customers receive an immediate $25 discount on the purchase.
If your rain barrel is dry, then water from your outdoor tap early or late in the day, as suggested in the third tip.
5. Use mulch on your garden
Mulch is great for reducing water evaporation and regulating the temperature of your soil, not to mention it helps keep those pesky weeds at bay. (Photo: GreenUP)
Mulch helps to moderate the temperature of the soil, reduce evaporation, and minimize weed growth in your garden.
We recommend having a mulch layer that is 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 inches) thick, but be sure keep the mulch about 2 cm (1 inch) away from the stems of your plants so it does not impede their growth.
6. Choose native drought-tolerant plants for your garden
Autumn joy sedum is a drought-tolerant plant that’s a perfect addition for a low-water garden. It also makes for great ground cover and can be used in a butterfly garden. (Photo: GreenUP)
If you are working on your garden this year, visit the GreenUP Ecology Park Native Plant Nursery during its operating hours (10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). Explore our selection of plant species that can look beautiful during drought conditions.
Some great drought-tolerant plants to start with are aster (heath or New England), black-eyed Susan, dense blazing star, milkweed (butterfly or common), New Jersey tea, and purple coneflower (echinacea). Visit greenup.on.ca/nursery/ for details and prices.
We also have Water Wise Garden Kits (17 plants, seven species, and a planting guide) available for pre-order at greenup.on.ca/water-wise-garden-kit/.
7. Check for leaks in your garden hose
Garden hoses can potentially use 2,700 litres of water per hour if left on.
Repair or replace your hose and couplings if they leak.
8. Use a broom to clear off your driveway, deck, or sidewalk
There is no need for a hose when a simple broom will do.
Remember, if a hose can use 2,700 litres per hour, this 15-minute task could save 675 litres of water.
9. Go to a car wash to clean your vehicle
If you want to clean your vehicle, make sure to go to a car wash where they have the appropriate facilities to manage water and waste water from the washing process.
10. Cover swimming pools when not in use
This will reduce evaporation from your pool and keep the water where you want it — inside the pool.
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Even if you implement just a few of these suggestions, you will be able to save a considerable amount of water from going to waste. Share all of your water saving actions with us on social media @ptbogreenup.
If you are letting your lawn go dormant, have a front yard rain barrel, or are using drought-tolerant plants, you are eligible to have your garden recognized through the GreenUP Water Wise program. Check out greenup.on.ca/waterwise/.
In our final article next week, we will learn more about how water is treated prior to arriving to our homes and how to safely obtain water should your well be running low.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
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