Moving to Stage Three Water Restrictions

From the Comox Valley Regional District:

Due to extremely low water levels caused by the record-breaking dry weather conditions this spring and summer, and the absence of any significant snowpack over the winter, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) will move to stage three water restrictions effective Friday, July 3, 2015. 

The stage three restrictions are necessary to maintain an ample supply of community water. The water that supplies the Comox Valley water system originates in Comox Lake and is taken from the Puntledge River and delivered to approximately 41,000 residents. Our water is a shared resource with BC Hydro using its share of the water to generate electricity, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans using it to ensure salmon stocks migrate and thrive. 

“We’re asking all residents to turn off their automatic lawn sprinklers, refrain from using manually- operated sprinkler systems, and not to wash their vehicles or boats,” said Dave Leitch, CVRD’s senior manager of water and wastewater services. “We need to change our outdoor water use habits. By reducing our water use, we can minimize our withdrawal from the lake.” 

Stage three is the most extreme water restriction and essentially requires all homeowners to use water only when completely necessary. During stage three the following activities are prohibited:

• Watering lawns (with manual or automatic sprinklers) or pressure washing driveways or boulevards at any time
• Filling or adding water to a hot tub or garden pond at any time
• Washing a vehicle or a boat at any time (other than in a commercial car wash or car dealership)

 These water restrictions apply to everyone living in the Town of Comox, the City of Courtenay and the Arden, Comox Valley, England Road, Marsden/Camco, and Greaves Crescent water local service areas. All of these areas are served by the Comox Valley water system. 

Water conservation officers work on behalf of the City of Courtenay, Town of Comox and the CVRD to provide education and enforcement of the bylaw. If you see people watering outside of the allowed time, remind them of the restrictions. To report an infraction in the City of Courtenay email waterenforcement@courtenay.ca or call 250-334-4441, and for the CVRD and the Town of Comox email waterenforcement@comoxvalleyrd.ca or call 334-6006. For more information on the three stage bylaw, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions.

The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.