The Regional District of Nanaimo will introduce Stage 2 outdoor water restrictions starting May 1.
It will apply to all residents in the RDN Water Service Areas except for the Decourcey Water Service Area which will remain at Stage 4.
Stage 2 watering restrictions will be in effect until further notice and mean sprinkling can only occur on even days for even-numbered houses and on odd days for odd-numbered houses.
Sprinkling is permitted for a maximum of two hours between 7 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Vegetable garden watering and drip irrigation are exempt from restrictions.
The region went into the 2023 fall season with dry conditions however, precipitation in October and November allowed drought conditions on Eastern Vancouver to improve through the winter months. With warmer than normal temperatures, however, reported snow levels at higher elevations were below average for most of the winter season.
READ MORE: Parksville considers water conservation with snowpack levels low
There was an uptick in the snowpack in February due to higher precipitation levels. The snowpack helps store winter precipitation at elevation and contributes to streamflow and groundwater as it melts. Forecasts show the potential for slightly lower than average rainfall and warmer than average temperatures this spring, with the likelihood of drought conditions beginning early in the summer season.
With the prospect of a dry summer ahead, proactive water conservation measures must be taken now to meet future water demands for essential household use, fire protection, irrigation purposes and environmental flows.
Water system capacity and conditions vary across the region. Not all water providers will be moving to Stage 2 on May 1. Please refer to the accompanying table for watering restrictions by location and visit your respective water provider’s website for more details and current information.
A map of water service areas, including their current watering restrictions, can be viewed at rdn.bc.ca/watering-restriction-map.
— NEWS Staff