Recent heavy rainfall has significantly increased the amount of water entering the City's wastewater system. Reducing non-essential water use helps reduce pressure on the system and supports ongoing response efforts.
Flood Response & Residential Water Use Updates
Last Updated: July 2, 2026 at 4:30pm
The City of Camrose continues responding to ongoing flooding. This page is the City's official source for the latest information, including residential water use requests, public safety advisories, area closures, and response updates.
Current Status
Residential Water Use Reduction
Residents are asked to continue reducing all non-essential water use until further notice to help reduce pressure on the City's wastewater system while response efforts continue.
Valley Areas and Waterways
For your safety, all valley areas and waterways within the city remain closed to the public until further notice. Please stay out of all closed areas and obey all barricades and posted signs.
What Residents Need to Do
Residents can help support the City's response by continuing to reduce non-essential water use and following all public safety advisories.
Please continue to:
- Delay running washing machines and dishwashers whenever possible.
- Take shorter showers and avoid baths.
- Turn off taps when they are not in use.
- Postpone any other non-essential water use that can safely wait.
- Make sure sump pumps are working properly and that discharged water is directed away from your home's foundation and away from the sanitary sewer system. Where possible, direct sump pump discharge onto your lawn or another permeable surface where the water can safely soak into the ground.
Please do not:
- Run multiple water-using appliances at the same time unless absolutely necessary.
- Wash vehicles, driveways, sidewalks, or other outdoor surfaces.
- Fill pools or hot tubs.
- Leave taps running unnecessarily.
- Connect or discharge sump pumps or downspouts into the sanitary sewer system.
- Enter closed valley areas or waterways.
- Go around barricades or ignore posted signs.
Why Water Use Reduction Is Important
Recent heavy rainfall has significantly increased the amount of water entering the City's wastewater system. Every litre of water that can safely be kept out of the system helps reduce pressure on critical infrastructure and supports crews as they continue responding to ongoing flooding.
Safety
Flooded areas, creek banks, trails, and water edges remain hazardous and may be unstable, even if they appear calm.
The following activities are not permitted while closures remain in place:
- Using the trail system in the valley
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Paddleboarding
- Swimming / wading
- Any other recreational activity on city waterways
These closures are in place to protect the public while crews continue responding to changing conditions.
What the City Is Doing
City staff continue working around the clock to respond to the ongoing situation and maintain essential services for the community.
Current response efforts include:
- Managing water flows throughout the system.
- Protecting critical infrastructure.
- Completing emergency repairs.
- Monitoring weather and changing conditions.
- Maintaining essential municipal services.
- Working closely with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to ensure the City has the support it needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the questions residents have been asking. This section will continue to be updated as new questions arise.
Why is the City asking residents to reduce water use?
Yes. Residents can continue using water for essential daily needs. However, shorter showers are encouraged to help reduce the amount of water entering the wastewater system.
Can I still do laundry or run my dishwasher?
Yes, if necessary. If possible, please delay running washing machines and dishwashers until the request has been lifted. Avoid running multiple water-using appliances at the same time.
Can I still water my lawn/garden or wash my vehicle?
Please postpone non-essential outdoor water use until further notice.
All valley areas and waterways within the City of Camrose remain closed until further notice. Please obey all barricades, posted signs, and staff direction.
How long will the water use reduction request and closures remain in place?
The City continues to monitor conditions closely. The request and closures will remain in effect until they are no longer needed. Updates will be made shared as soon as they are available.