Businesses impacted by orders to not use water are allowed to use it again.
The SCRD, the District of Sechelt and the shíshálh Nation lifted their first order under SOLE— one which prohibited using water to manufacture concrete, asphalt, or cement, repackaging water for sale, as well as the resale of beer, cider, wine, and spirits.
“Our main reservoirs are rain dependent”, said Remko Rosenboom, Director of the Emergency Operations Centre. “This year, we have almost skipped fall weather at higher elevations, having transitioned quickly from an extended summer drought to winter freezing conditions.”
Stage 4 restrictions will be staying in place.
If the freezing temperatures impact creek flow, the SCRD will consider increasing restrictions again. Chapman Creek depends on fall rain for runoff and groundwater infiltration, and more rain in the entire watershed is still needed before the soils in the watershed are saturated enough to guarantee long term water supply.
Late next week, the new Church Road Water Treatment Plant will begin pumping water from the Soames well into the Chapman water system, adding around 15% supply.
SCRD had reduced Environmental Flow Needs (required for the river’s ecosystem to continue operating correctly) for Chapman Creek to the recently approved minimum 160 litres per second, but as salmon migrate again, it will be pushed back up to 200 litres.
