Effective June 7th and until further notice, the SCRD has declared Stage 2 water conservation regulations.
Shane Walkey, manager, Utility Services with the Sunshine Coast Regional District said the warm weather and little precipitation over the past month has resulted in snow depth equal to that in late-June of 2018.
He said given the current weather forecast for the remainder of the month of May, it is expected this will result in a decrease in Chapman Creek flows much sooner than last year.
There is a major change to the Stage 2 water restrictions this year.
Walkey said, “Lawn watering is not permitted in Stage 2 for everybody that lives in the regional area south of Secret Cove, that includes Secret Cove, Halfmoon Bay, District of Sechelt, Sechelt Indian Government District, Roberts Creek and those surrounding the Town of Gibsons and the Town of Gibsons Zone 3.”
Residents on the Pender Harbour water system will remain at Stage 1 as will people in Zone 1 or 2 in Gibsons.
For trees, shrubs or flowers, sprinklers or soaker hoses can be used two days per week on Thursday and Sunday for even-numbered addresses from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and on Wednesday and Saturday for odd numbered addresses from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Handheld hoses with spray trigger nozzles, hand-held containers or micro/drip-irrigation can be used anytime.
For food-producing plants and trees, sprinklers or soaker hoses can be used two days per week on Thursday and Sunday for even-numbered addresses from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Wednesday and Saturday for odd numbered addresses from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Commercial food producing farms paying a metered rate for water are exempt from Stage 2 regulations.
Residents will still be able to wash vehicles or boats as long as they use hand-held hoses with trigger nozzles and it’s okay to fill swimming pools, spas, garden ponds or fountains.
SCRD staff patrol neighbourhoods on a regular basis to enforce regulations and to deliver educational materials and complaints are also investigated.
