It might be dry, but used carefully, Nanaimo’s water supply should last through the summer months.
The province bumped Vancouver Island into Level 3, very dry drought ranking, but the City of Nanaimo isn’t ready to switch to tighter watering restrictions, according to a city press release issue Friday.
The decision, announced by the province Friday, was prompted by low flows in most streams and rivers and dry conditions are expected to continue. Those factors combined with a snow pack accumulation at only 50 per cent of normal levels in the mountains that has already melted with early warm spring weather plus predictions for another warmer and drier-than-average summer means the city is also calling on the public to conserve water, especially for outdoor uses.
Jump Lake reservoir is currently at full capacity and it is expected there will be enough water for the summer months.
“We are pleased to report that the Jump Lake reservoir is at full storage capacity and within normal levels for this time of year,” said Mike Squire, city manager of water resources. “However, due to the early warm spell it is in everyone’s best interest to help conserve water to ensure fisheries release flows, firefighting storage and domestic demands can be sustained throughout the summer.”
For more information on watering restrictions visit www.teamwatersmart.ca.
RELATED: Province calls on Islanders to conserve water immediately
RELATED: Nanaimo watershed sees driest March in more than a decade