After 16 days of mostly very warm and dry weather accompanying them, water use restrictions in Elliot Lake have finally been lifted. The dam broke Monday when city officials ended the more than a half month of water restrictions they imposed on July 4. During the period, residents were restricted to using water for lawn watering, gardening, car washing and other outdoor water use activities to an odd-even pattern reflective of their street numbers. They also had to adhere to restricted morning and evening water usage hours.
Despite a long period with little rain and very warm temperatures, fire bans and constant forest fire concerns from MNR officials and community leaders in many municipalities about the risk of forest fires, Elliot Lake's watering restrictions were removed on Monday (July 16). City Director of Environmental Services Darryl Halloch is urging Elliot Lake residents to continue to reduce water consumption, wherever possible.