'We have to do our part': Calgary businesses reduce water usage amid restrictions

Following a major water main break and calls from the city to reduce water consumption, some Calgary businesses are making extra efforts to conserve.

Following a major water main break and calls from the city to reduce water consumption, some Calgary businesses are making extra efforts to conserve.

Some businesses that rely heavily on water such as laundromats are turning customers away unless their needs are deemed essential.

Aaron Wyman, owner of The Laundry Room on Kensington Road, says he's lost out on about 80 per cent of his customers because of measures taken by his team.

"Immediately upon the notifications Thursday, we thought of how we could assess this and decided the choice was to only allow essential clothes to be washed," he said.

"Essential meaning clothes you need to be washed so that you can function, but if you think it's time to wash your king-size duvet, you'll have to wait."

Wyman says he'd normally see dozens of customers on a Friday morning.

"It's definitely not normal for it to be this quiet, but it's also good news. It means that people are doing their part and not necessarily doing what they might be wanting to do," he said.