A ban on all outdoor water use went into effect on Friday, Oct. 5, for the Sunshine Coast south of Pender Harbour, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has announced.
The stage 4 watering restrictions, imposed due to the prolonged dry weather, apply to all outdoor water use, including hand-held hoses and watering cans, until further notice.
Under the ban, water cannot be used to fill residential swimming pools, hot tubs, wading pools, garden ponds or fountains, or to wash driveways, sidewalks, vehicles, boats or other equipment. Use of power washers is also banned.
The restrictions prohibit the use of irrigation systems or sprinklers to water lawns, gardens, newly laid grass or seed.
Residents are also being asked to conserve as much as water as possible inside their homes.
"No matter what the watering restriction may be, we encourage people to voluntarily stop all non-essential water use," SCRD board chair Garry Nohr said in a release.
Bylaw enforcement officers are patrolling the region and violation fines will be issued, the release said.
To report violators, contact the SCRD at 604-885-6806 or the Town of Gibsons at 604-886-2274.

For more details on watering restrictions, see www.scrd.ca/Sprinkling-Regulations.