Holiday Water Delivery: Don’t Let Your Cistern Run Dry This Christmas
The holidays bring a lot of wonderful things: family gathered around the table, kids running through the house, maybe even a few extra guests staying for the week. What they also bring? A whole lot of extra water usage. Between the extra showers, the mountain of dishes after Christmas dinner, and that one cousin who…
The holidays bring a lot of wonderful things: family gathered around the table, kids running through the house, maybe even a few extra guests staying for the week. What they also bring? A whole lot of extra water usage.
Between the extra showers, the mountain of dishes after Christmas dinner, and that one cousin who treats your hot tub like their personal spa, your cistern is working overtime. And if you’re not careful, it can run dry at the worst possible moment.
We’ve seen it happen. The call comes in on December 23rd: “We’re out of water and the in-laws arrive tomorrow.” Nobody wants to be that person.
That’s why we put together this guide. A little planning now means you can actually enjoy the holidays instead of stressing about your water supply.
Why the Holidays Are Hard on Your Water Supply
During a typical week, you probably have a good sense of how fast your cistern drains. But the holiday season throws all those patterns out the window.
More People Under One Roof
Every extra person in your home adds roughly 250 litres of daily water usage. That’s showers, toilet flushes, handwashing, and drinking water. A family of four hosting six guests for a week? That’s potentially double your normal usage.
Holiday Cooking and Cleaning
Christmas dinner doesn’t just fill stomachs—it fills the sink. Between prep work, cooking, and the aftermath, you could be using hundreds of extra litres. And if you’re running multiple loads of laundry to get those guest rooms ready, that adds up too.
Extreme Cold Makes Everything Harder
Alberta’s December weather isn’t exactly forgiving. When temperatures plunge to -25°C or colder, delivery schedules slow down. Equipment needs to thaw. Roads get treacherous. That last-minute emergency delivery you were counting on? It might not be as quick as you hoped.
Your Holiday Water Planning Guide
Here’s how to stay ahead of the game and keep your holidays stress-free:
1. Book Your Delivery Now—Not Later
December is one of our busiest months. The week before Christmas? Our schedule fills up fast. Don’t assume you can call a few days out and get squeezed in. Book your pre-holiday fill as early as possible—ideally by the first week of December for a mid-month delivery.
2. Calculate Your Holiday Usage
Take a quick inventory:
- How many people will be in your home?
- How many days will they stay?
- Are you hosting Christmas dinner or New Year’s Eve?
- Will the hot tub be running?
Multiply your guest count by 250 litres per day and add that to your normal usage. You might be surprised how quickly it adds up.
3. Keep Your Tank Fuller Than Usual
Here’s something most people don’t realize: a fuller cistern handles the cold better. More water means more thermal mass, which helps prevent freezing during those brutal cold snaps. Running your tank low in December isn’t just inconvenient—it’s risky.
Instead of waiting until you hit the last 25%, consider scheduling a top-up when you’re at 40-50%. It’s a buffer that could save you from a Christmas crisis.
4. Prepare Your Property
Our trucks are built for Alberta winters, but we still need safe access. Before your scheduled delivery:
- Plow your driveway and turnaround area
- Salt or sand any icy spots
- Mark your cistern stack clearly (especially if it’s snow-covered)
- Move vehicles, equipment, and holiday decorations out of the delivery path
Need a reminder? Check out our full property preparation guide for bulk water delivery.
Heading South for the Holidays?
If you’re escaping Alberta’s winter for warmer weather, your cistern still needs attention. An empty tank sitting in -30°C is asking for trouble.
Before you leave:
- Top up your cistern. A fuller tank holds heat better and protects your equipment.
- Keep the heat on. Most home insurance policies require it. Check with the Insurance Bureau of Canada for specific requirements.
- Arrange for someone to check on your home. Many policies require inspections every 48-72 hours.
- Consider a water level alarm. It can alert you to problems before they become disasters.
We can help you schedule a delivery before you leave so your home sitter doesn’t have to worry about water.
The Gift of Convenience: Set Up Recurring Deliveries
Here’s an idea: why not give yourself the gift of never thinking about water deliveries again?
With recurring scheduled deliveries, we automatically show up on a predetermined schedule to top up your tank. No phone calls. No last-minute panic. No running dry.
We’ll even track your usage patterns and suggest a schedule that keeps you comfortably ahead. And if you want to make it even simpler, we can keep your payment information on file or set up a prepaid balance. One less thing on your to-do list.
What If You’re Already Running Low?
Reading this with your water gauge already in the danger zone? Don’t panic. Call us.
For our regular customers with accounts in good standing, we’ll do our best to fit you in—even during the holiday rush. Emergency dispatch is available, though timing depends on our schedule and road conditions.
That said, “best effort” is a lot less stressful than “guaranteed spot.” Book ahead whenever you can.
Our Holiday Hours
Our team will be taking a few well-deserved days off to spend with our own families. We’ll be closed on:
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- Boxing Day (December 26)
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
Our trucks will be rolling again as soon as the holidays wrap up. Plan around these dates to ensure you’re covered.
Thank You, Parkland County
This year marks 10 years of West Imperial Water keeping central Alberta’s tanks full. A decade of early mornings, frozen fingers, and more cups of cold coffee than we can count. But also a decade of building relationships with customers who’ve become like family.
We started this business because we believed in doing things right—showing up when we say we will, treating every property with respect, and never cutting corners. That hasn’t changed.
From our family to yours: thank you for trusting us with something as essential as your water supply. We don’t take that lightly.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the entire West Imperial team. Here’s to full tanks, warm homes, and a wonderful holiday season.