Rural residents around Nanaimo will have to abide by stricter rules related to watering lawns should drought levels elevate this summer.
Regional District of Nanaimo directors unanimously adopted updated watering restrictions at a board meeting Tuesday, May 28. The new restrictions apply to the RDN’s rural areas and are optional for municipalities.
Stage 2 will still call for odd-numbered addressess watering on odd-number days and even-numbered addresses on even days. Previously, Stage 3 asked residents to volunteer to further restrict usage and Stage 4 called for an outright lawn watering ban. With the amendments, if the region moves to Stage 3 restrictions, odd-numbered addresses will only be allowed to water lawns on Mondays and even-numbered addresses will only be able to water on Thursdays.
Stage 4 is being amended to allow people to wash their house siding, boats and vehicles on their specified day, between 7-10 a.m. or 7-10 p.m., provided they use a shut-off nozzle. Those water uses were previously prohibited under Stage 4.
At the meeting, Erica Forssman, RDN drinking water and watershed protection program coordinator, detailed why regulations were amended to allow for washing of vehicles in extreme conditions.
“There was some discussion around that and the largest point that was brought up through the water purveyors was that this wasn’t an issue they were seeing as really reducing water availability…” Forssman said. “There was also a point that was brought up about safety, especially with boat use in the summer … the concern we hear from residents, they want to be able to wash salt off their boats. Allowing that seemed to be within the spirit of the framework.”
Staff members from the RDN’s member municipalities took part in the revisions. Mike Squire, City of Nanaimo water resources manager, told the News Bulletin the city will stick with the existing framework and is in good shape currently with its water.
“It works for us because I think we have a very resilient water supply system for the City of Nanaimo, whereas other jurisdictions don’t have that,” he said. “They have different water supplies that are basically being encumbered by over-development in some areas, potentially.”
The new framework applies better to areas which rely on well water, according to Squire.
“There’s a certain amount in the aquifer that is there available for use, but when you’re seeing trends of aquifers declining, then it’s concerning for other jurisdictions and municipalities,” he said. “They’re taking action to have some additional water conservation measures.”
Squire said residents have become wiser as far as water conservation, and added that water-friendly appliances and education are key.
As of Wednesday, May 29, all municipalities and rural areas are in Stage 2, except for Town of Qualicum Beach, which is in Stage 1, and Decourcey water service area in Yellow Point, which is in Stage 4.
For more information, go to www.rdn.bc.ca/watering-restriction-map.
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