With hotter weather and below average rainfall the past several months, the city and the region are further tightening watering restrictions.
In a press release, the Regional District of Nanaimo said as a result of weather conditions and the B.C. government declaring provincial drought Level 4 for east Vancouver Island, it is elevating to Stage 4 water restrictions, beginning Wednesday, July 5. The City of Nanaimo, meanwhile, announced Wednesday, July 5, that it is entering Stage 3 watering restrictions.
Under Stage 4, sprinkling of lawns is totally prohibited, as is washing of all vehicles, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and building surfaces and filling pools, hot tubs and garden ponds, the RDN release noted.
Watering vegetable garden and fruit trees is permitted under Stage 4 and drip irrigation is allowed between 7-10 a.m. or 7-10 p.m, the RDN said. Hand-watering of gardens is allowed using a watering can or a hose with a shut-off device.
Speaking to the News Bulletin last week, Julie Pisani, RDN drinking water and watershed protection program coordinator, said there are further water-saving measures residents can consider.
“Having those sort of resiliency additions, such as rainwater harvesting, that can help during these summer months,” she said. “You’re not collecting rainwater now, because it’s very dry, but in the rainy months, or in previous rainy events, you would have been able to store that for later … That can help to be another supplementary water source for the areas under stress.”
For City of Nanaimo residents, Stage 3 watering restrictions means they can continue to water in the morning or night time every other day according to their house address, but they are now being asked to voluntarily reduce their water use. Sweeping rather than hosing down sidewalks and driveways, and adding topsoil and compost to gardens instead of watering are alternatives suggested in a city press release.
Mike Squire, city water resources manager, told the News Bulletin that city reservoirs are below average, but still in good shape.
“At this time, we’re trending below normal levels for the reservoir, but it’s about 96 per cent full,” said Squire. “Normally we’re about 98 per cent and that’s mostly due to the snowpack melt.”
Squire said it would take a lot for the city to elevate to Stage 4, as it has “a very resilient water supply system.”
Areas of the RDN under Stage 4 restrictions include the District of Lantzville, the Nanoose Bay peninsula, and North Cedar Improvement District.
Decourcey (Pylades), River’s Edge, French Creek/Sandpiper, Surfside, San Pareil, Whiskey Creek, Westurne Heights, Melrose Terrace, City of Parksville, EPCOR French Creek and Bowser Waterworks are also in Stage 4 water restrictions. Town of Qualicum Beach residents can water on any day, between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
RELATED: Regional rainfall about half of normal during June
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karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
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