Stage 3 outdoor watering restrictions will come into effect for customers in all Regional District of Nanaimo Water Service Areas starting Friday, June 27.
It is enforced except for Decourcey and Surfside Water Service Areas which will remain at Stage 4.
In the RDN’s Water Conservation Framework Stage 3, lawn watering is now limited to one day per week with odd-numbered houses on Mondays and even-numbered houses on Thursdays. This change to Stage 3 will help reduce water use and preserve our collective water resource as drought conditions become more severe.
The Government of British Columbia currently lists Eastern Vancouver Island at Drought Level 1, referencing to abnormally dry conditions. June has seen very little rainfall and that, combined with a below-average snowpack, has pushed the region into drought conditions. Water flow in the region’s creeks and streams is low, and fire risk is a concern for the rest of the summer if the dry weather persists. Conserving water now ensures we have what we need for essential household use, fire protection, stream flows for fish and irrigation purposes.
It is critical that water is conserved as the water is a shared resource. Stage 3 provides residents with flexible options to further cut back on their water use including: Avoid washing vehicles or boats unnecessarily, unless for safety reasons (windows and headlights); Sweep outdoor surfaces such as driveways or decks with a broom rather than using a hose or power washing; Fix or replace old, inefficient or leaking irrigation systems; and add mulch/topsoil to flower beds to help retain water and shorten sprinkler run times.
Water system capacity and conditions vary across the region. Not all water providers will be moving to Stage 3 on June 27. Please refer to the water conservation table for watering restrictions by location and visit your water provider’s website for more information.
A map of water service areas, including their current watering restrictions, can be viewed at rdn.bc.ca/watering-restriction-map. For tips on water conservation, visit teamwatersmart.ca. For information on provincial drought levels, visit droughtportal.gov.bc.ca. While drought level information is important, it does not determine when the RDN implements the different water conservation stages.
