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Watering rules may delay need for pipeline t‘s the source of life, and it has also Ibeen the main source of concern durâ€" ing the first few months of the new regional council term: water. Regional council hopes its latest deciâ€" sion to permanently restrict lawn waterâ€" ing does more to preserve water, and keep it flowing from local groundwater sources longer into the future. Regional council voted 11â€"5 last week in favour of making permanent the temâ€" porary lawnâ€"watering restrictions that have been in place the last couple of Regional water officials are already predicting those changes will delay the need for a Great Lakes water pipeline by five years until 2034. But Waterloo regional Coun. Sean Strickland believes if people buy into the culture of conservation, the region might not need a multiâ€"billion dollar pipeline. "I‘m in favour of planning for the potential or the inevitability of the pipeline," said Strickland. "But in the meanwhile, the conservation methods we put into place today may, if successâ€" ful, lead us to say in 15 years time that we could survive without a pipeline. "I think that would be the preferred alternative." Temporary water restrictions have already reduced peak summer water use by 20 million litres a day. That has led to a reduction of 8.5 per cent of the water used during those highâ€"demand months. The permanent lawnâ€"watering restricâ€" tions will only allow homeowners to water their lawn once a week. Regional council is still discussing whether there is some flexibility in the system to let water users choose that day. "Putting these permanent restrictions is probably something 1 wouldn‘t have supported five or six years ago," said Strickland. "But now, based on the new realities, I think it‘s time we did someâ€" thing like this. "I‘ve already received half a dozen phone calls and emails on this, and everyone of them has been supportive By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff Continued on page 5 Eightâ€"yearâ€"old Caroline Lukey tries to spare up her frame during a game of bowling Monday afternoon at the Waterloo Bowling Lanes. Caroline is one of many children who signed up for the City of Waterioo‘s March Break Madness day camp this week. For more information on the weekâ€"long program, call 519â€" 885â€"1220, ext. 246. Sparing it up L $1995 Includes up to 5L of 10930 & Standard Filter 345 Weber St. N., Waterioo 519.746.1070 _ _ Younggirl donates hair to kids‘ cancer group Page 10 Building turns 70 Page 18 ARTS FOCUS LFESTYLE Local skaters off to Japan Page 21