Via the Comox Valley Regional District:

CVRD Aims to Reduce Water Consumption during Stage Two Water Restrictions

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has adopted an updated water conservation bylaw for those users connected to the Comox Valley water system. Although the water restrictions currently remain in stage one (even/odd day watering), the bylaw is effective immediately.

For the most part, the changes to the bylaw will support lowering water consumption during stage two water restrictions. The allowable watering times have been reduced to a two-hour period in the morning and in the evening. When stage two water restrictions are in effect, lawn sprinkling will be restricted to the hours of 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 – 10:00 p.m., with even-numbered addresses permitted to water during those hours on Tuesday and Saturday and odd-numbered addresses Sunday and Wednesday.

"Last year, the CVRD moved to stage two in May and the overall water consumption went up on days that watering was permitted," said Mike Herschmiller, CVRD’s manager of water services. " It is felt that reducing the time period will help manage water demand but still provide adequate time for the maintenance and landscaping and gardens."

In addition, the updated water conservation bylaw addresses restricting water use for local government parks, ornamental lawns and grass boulevards and adds a fourth stage of watering restrictions for extreme drought weather conditions. It’s important for the public to understand that local governments are still exempt from the irrigation of all-weather playing fields due to the large capital costs associated with these assets. Firefighting is not restricted during extreme drought conditions. The updated water conservation bylaw applies to areas serviced by the Comox Valley local water system which includes the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, the Arden, Comox Valley, England Road, Marsden/Camco and Greaves Crescent local water service areas. To download a copy of the bylaw or the quick "At a Glance" reference guide, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions