The provincial government has put the residents of Parksville Qualicum Beach and most of Vancouver Island on the highest drought alert level possible, but watering restrictions here are not likely to change in the next few days.
In response to low rainfall and record high temperatures across southern and eastern Vancouver Island, government staff upgraded the drought in the region to Level 4 — extremely dry — and are urging all water users (including residents, industry, farmers and municipalities) to reduce water consumption as much as possible. The province is also closing most streams and rivers on the Island to angling.
B.C. has four levels of drought, with level 4 being the driest. Water restrictions such as sprinkling bylaws are usually put in place by the local municipal government, based on local water supply and provincial drought guidelines.
Representatives of regional water suppliers were set to meet in Parksville Wednesday for a regularly scheduled bi-weekly meeting. Despite the provincial government’s move on the drought level this week, City of Parksville sources said watering restrictions are not likely to change.
Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Naniamo and the surrounding rural areas are now on a uniform staging process for water restrictions. All of the communities, except for Qualicum Beach, are currently at Stage 2, which allows residents to water lawns, wash vehicles, fill pools, pressure wash — essentially any use of water — between 7-10 a.m. or 7-10 p.m. (maximum of two hours) every other day, depending on your house number.
Even a move to Stage 3 by the communities would not change watering restrictions. Stage 3 has been called a “pre-cursor” to Stage 4, a time when municipalities ask residents to voluntarily cut back on water use. Stage 4 bans most all watering except from a hand-held container or drip irrigation.
“We watch the water consumption and water levels daily and we’ll err on the side of caution,” Parksville Mayor Marc Lefebvre said this week.
According to the Regional District of Nanaimo website, Qualicum Beach residents are at Stage 1, which means they can do any kind of watering any day they want, as long as it is between the hours of 7-10 a.m. or 7-10 p.m. However, the Town of Qualicum Beach’s website has a notice that says, effective May 15-Sept. 15, the watering of lawns is permitted every day between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The provincial drought Level 4 notice extends from north of Campbell River and the Discovery Islands down the east coast of Vancouver Island and includes Victoria, Sooke and Port Renfrew.
Areas north of Campbell River and along the west coast of Vancouver Island remain at a Level 3 drought rating, which means the conditions are very dry and water users should continue to limit their water use.
The province said the drought has lowered water levels and reduced flow in rivers and streams, which prompted the closure of the freshwater sports fishery across much of the southern Island starting July 1.
Big Qualicum, Puntledge and Quinsam Rivers will remain open, along with Campbell River and all streams north of the City of Campbell River and Bamfield.
The fishing closures will remain in place until drought conditions improve significantly, said the news release from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Reseources.
