Havre under non-essential water use ban

The city of Havre has issued a ban on non-essential water use.

The ban was issued Friday afternoon, effective immediately, and will last until conditions change, the release said.

The hot and dry conditions are leading to the water treatment plant not being able to keep up with demand, the release said, adding that that is likely to worsen with the St. Mary Diversion shut down until at least next year.

The ban prohibits most non-essential uses and restricts outdoor watering to hand watering only.

Banned non-essential water uses include watering lawn grass, filling swimming pools and other water recreation devices, washing hard surfaces like driveways or sidewalks, vehicles, and other activities that do not protect health and safety. Hand watering (not with sprinklers) of gardens, trees planted in 2024, and sod that was installed after 20 June 2024 is permitted under conservative water use.