In response to one of the driest months of May on record, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is set to launch a new campaign aimed at cutting water consumption.
“For easy comparison, in May 2014 we received 41.6 mm of rain and May 2015 we received 5.8 mm,” said Julie Clark, sustainability and education coordinator at the SCRD.
“All this follows a winter with 12 per cent of our normal snowpack for the South Coast region. The projections ahead point to a hot, dry summer.”
The Sunshine Coast is currently at stage 2 water restrictions and the SCRD is monitoring consumption to come up with ambitious but attainable targets starting next week for Coast residents.
The “desired daily maximum” water usage will be set by the SCRD based on “historical consumption patterns, temperature and precipitation trends and our available water supply,” Clark said.
“Consistently reducing our water consumption in the Chapman water system now, in stage 2, will proactively reduce the amount of time we are forced to spend in further water restrictions, if the hot, dry weather continues.”
The community can view the daily targets and check the progress at www.scrd.ca starting early next week. There will also be updates in Coast Reporter and on SCRD social media feeds.
The campaign will run for as long as the Coast is at stage 2 water restrictions. There will be ways for the community to share their conservation tips and tricks to win prizes like rain sensors and hose timers once the campaign is underway.
Obvious ways to reduce water consumption include not running the tap when brushing your teeth, taking short showers and avoiding watering lawns this summer.
“We are thrilled with the number of ‘golden lawns’ being observed out there and will continue to encourage residents to let their lawn go,” Clark noted.
“Grass goes dormant when it doesn’t have water and will come back to life when the rains return. Maintaining the supply for drinking water, fire protection, fish in the creeks, local businesses and growing local food are among the highest priorities during drought times.”
Learn more ways to cut your water consumption at www.scrd.ca/Water-Conservation
Under stage 2, residents on the SCRD water system with even addresses can use sprinklers, soaker hoses or other watering devices for outdoor watering on Thursdays and Sundays from 7 to 9 a.m., while odd-numbered addresses are permitted to do so on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 to 9 a.m.
The stage 2 restrictions also allow hand watering as needed with a spray-trigger nozzle. Hosing of sidewalks, driveways, windows or exterior building surfaces is not permitted under stage 2 restrictions, except to pressure wash surfaces to prepare them for painting.
