City of Calgary officials say they aren’t ordering car washes to shut down, but the messaging of a letter sent to some businesses suggests otherwise, according to a representative of a car washing company in the southeast.
In the letter, dated June 14, businesses are asked to cease using water for the sole purpose of cleaning vehicles until further notice.
“The city has the authority pursuant to the Water Utility Bylaw 40M2006, Section 19, to discontinue water service to a customer or group of customers in order to mitigate impairment of the water system,” reads the letter from city water services.
“As we anticipate your co-operation with the above request, we are hopeful that we will not need to discontinue water service to you but given the urgency of the situation we are prepared to do so as necessary.”
Mint Smartwash was one of the businesses that received the letter.
Ginny Barker, a spokesperson for the company, says that while it wasn’t a direct order, the message was a “heavy-handed” request to stop operations.
“When we got the letter from the city last Tuesday, we immediately shut down,” Barker said.
“It wasn’t mandatory, it was encouraged. That if we didn’t follow the guidance, then they would be forced to take more direct actions, which was completely shutting the water off to our source.”
Since outdoor water restrictions have been in place due to a June 5 feeder main failure, the city has stopped operating its facilities that use municipal water and hasn’t watered public gardens or trees with potable water.
Car washes, however, have been a point of contention. The messaging around those businesses has been unclear, according to a city councillor.
“From what we heard, they got letters saying it was a direction. But there’s miscommunication because I believe some feel like it’s voluntary,” said Coun. Sonya Sharp, who represents Ward 1.
“I would like some clarity, and I know the car wash industry would.”
As recently as Monday, the chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) said the city wasn’t obligating car washes to shut down — instead, it was asking them to reconsider operations.
“We are continuing to ask car washes to close, now is not the time to be washing cars,” Sue Henry said during the update that afternoon.
“There is no order in place for them to close, but we are asking for their co-operation in this.”
A spokesperson with the City of Calgary reiterated that message on Tuesday afternoon, saying there is no directive or mandate for car washing operations to close.
However, businesses are being asked to “do the right thing” during the emergency that Calgary is facing.