The City of Parksville is asking residents to voluntarily restrict more of their water use with the hope a “comprehensive water ban” isn’t needed.
Watering restriction stage 3 came into effect Thursday, Aug. 9, according to a Parksville news release that noted the current hot, dry weather “with no significant rainfall expected in the next while.”
Stage 3 watering restrictions encourage residents to “voluntarily reduce watering of lawns to a minimum in an effort to avoid a potential future watering ban if city water demands cannot be managed.”
In addition, stage 3 notes that vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from the restriction, though watering of ornamental shrubs, flowers and trees is restricted to a hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle if watered outside of the times permitted.
Washing of vehicles, boats and exterior building surfaces may be washed using city supplied potable water using a hand-held container or hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.
Washing sidewalks, driveways or parking lots may also be washed with city supplied potable water.
Swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs and water features may be filled.
Odd numbered addresses may water on odd numbered days and even numbered addresses on even numbered days. Watering times are 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a maximum of two hours total allocated watering per day.
Still, the city is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water, in particular “discretionary outdoor water use such as watering lawns.
“Should we not see reductions in water consumption, it will be necessary to implement stage 4, a comprehensive watering ban which prohibits all outdoor watering, filling of pools, washing vehicles, etc.”
For more info on water restrictions, go to parksville.ca. For tips on saving water, go to www.teamwatersmart.ca.