The head of the association that represents irrigation companies in the Calgary area says many employees in the industry have been without work since the city’s outdoor water restrictions were imposed in early June — and they are not sure how much longer people can survive without a paycheque.
The Stage 4 water restrictions that prohibited watering lawns, gardens and flowers were imposed the day after the critical feeder line in Montgomery and Bowness burst June 5.
Those who install and service underground water sprinklers say that’s meant limited or no work for staff — and therefore pay — for weeks. The conditions mean staff can’t flush the lines and can’t check or fix leaks or new systems.
“We need our employees to get back to work, they are our families … and right now those families are absolutely hurting because there’s nothing we can do,” said Kyle Brost, president of the Canadian Prairie chapter of the Irrigation Association.