Camrose residents are being asked to cut back on non-essential water use and stay out of all parks in the valley south of Mirror Lake after heavy rain swamped the city’s wastewater system and left creek banks unstable. The City of Camrose issued the two advisories on June 29, 2026, warning that the Wastewater Treatment Plant is running at maximum capacity and emergency overflow ponds are at risk of failing if flows stay high.
The trouble started with a major rainfall on June 20 and 21 that dumped about 70 millimetres of water on the area, and another soaking on June 27 and 28 added even more strain. City crews have been working around the clock, using vacuum trucks to pump water and relieve pressure, and drones to check for blockages and track conditions across the system.
The water conservation request means residents should hold off on things like washing cars, watering lawns, or filling pools. The Mayer Aquatic Centre has also been told it might have to close if water use isn’t brought down enough. In a statement, the city said its treatment plant is built for a population of about 20,000, and even with a $42.2 million upgrade finished in December 2023, the recent downpours have pushed the system to its limit.
At the same time, the city has shut down all parks in the valley south of Mirror Lake, including Jubilee Park, Jubilee Playground, and Stoney Creek Park. Floodwater and fast-moving creeks have left the banks soft and dangerous, and the water could be hiding hazards or be contaminated. The Summer Off-Leash Dog Park area, with trails south of the Camrose Drive overpass, is also closed until further notice because of flooding and crews working nearby.
Rural roads in Camrose County are being hit too, with closures on Range Road 182 and Township Road 460, among others, after flooding made them impassable. The city says people should stay away from valley parks and off-leash trails completely until the water goes down and the ground firms up.
Looking ahead, work is set to begin on Mirror Lake itself from July 3 to 10. Contractors Basin Environmental and Hydrasurvey will be checking shoreline plants, taking water samples, and mapping the lake bottom. The city says that’s to get ready for planned construction on the spillway and a possible sediment cleanup in 2027.
