The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is projecting about 72 days of water supply left in Chapman Lake, the main source of water for residents on the Coast.
That 72-day projection, calculated as of July 8, takes into account the estimated drop in usage expected as the Coast enters Stage 3 water restrictions July 10 and the estimated demand by firefighters trying to put out the forest fire near Sechelt.
Dave Crosby, the SCRD’s manager of utility services, said the use of water by firefighters hasn’t “made a big difference so far” in the Chapman Lake water level, but noted that’s likely because “others have cut back.”
The SCRD has asked large industrial operations and parks departments on the Coast to cut back considerably on their water usage, and all have complied.
The Sechelt parks department has also been looking at using secondary sources of water to irrigate planters.
“They had some test water they had when they commissioned their new waste-water treatment plant, and they have a cistern of water that they’re going to start drawing from for those hanging baskets, and then they’re going to cut back on the regularity that they do that as well,” Crosby said.
Residents are being asked to do their part to conserve what water Chapman Lake has left by following the Stage 3 Outdoor Water Use Restrictions, in effect July 10 until further notice.
Under Stage 3 restrictions there is a ban on all sprinkling and other outdoor water use. Residents can still water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables with hand-held containers or hand-held hoses equipped with shut-off devices.
The SCRD had planned to move to Stage 3 restrictions before the forest fire started, and the fire made the restrictions that much more important.
“We’re doing everything we can and trying to ask all of our customers to use the water wisely and try to cut back every place you can,” Crosby said.
“The more water we can save, the more we can extend the storage at Chapman until further into September or even October, if we don’t have significant rainfall before then.”
The SCRD water system relies solely on rainfall during the summer months and it will need a good downpour to replenish the resource.
Chapman Lake supplies water to approximately 90 per cent of Coast residents including those within the District of Sechelt.
The Town of Gibsons has matched the SCRD restrictions because part of the Town is on SCRD water. Users of other SCRD water systems in north and south Pender Harbour, Earls Cove and Egmont remained at Stage 1 water restrictions.
