Drier and hotter than normal weather is expected to stretch into summer, forcing the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) to find new sources of water with potential to meet demand until rain returns this fall.
“This magnitude of drought never occurred before,” infrastructure general manager Remko Rosenboom told SCRD directors during his presentation to the board at the June 20 infrastructure services committee meeting.
Temperatures are expected to be two to three degrees higher than average and warmer weather is already straining the water supply. “We are relying fully on our storage,” said Rosenboom, referring to the Chapman system, a rain and snow-dependent reservoir that supplies drinking water to most residents on the Sunshine Coast.
Chaster well, located in Area E, has been added to the system to supplement supply, while Stage 3 outdoor water restrictions have been declared to start June 27.
“Given we’re in a unique situation, given the magnitude of the drought … we’re initiating special initiatives,” Rosenboom told directors in his verbal report. The aim is to get approvals and treatment systems in place to augment the supply this year.
Among those initiatives needing approval is reducing the environmental flow rate of Chapman Creek – an idea brought to staff by community members in recent months.
Rosenboom said community members asked whether it’s possible to reduce flow rates in Chapman Creek until fish begin migrating in early August. In 2016, the flow rate was set at 200 litres per second during periods of drought. This year, the flow rate requirement took effect June 21.
“We don’t have any good analysis to support such a request, because we’ve never looked at it from this lens,” said Rosenboom.
Sechelt director Tom Lamb asked whether the Chapman hatchery, which depends on water from Chapman Creek, is searching for other means of sourcing water.
Earlier this year, the Sunshine Coast Salmonid Enhancement Society decided not to keep fish on its premises past July 1, because they did not anticipate they would be able to maintain optimum conditions due to ongoing drought. The hatchery is in the process of applying for a water licence to use an on-site well.
Rosenboom raised two other potential water sources at the meeting: Trout Lake and Grey Creek.
Trout Lake used to be a drinking water source but was taken off the system years ago when it was deemed redundant because more infrastructure allowed water from Chapman to flow into the area. A water licence is still in place that could “provide a very small amount of extra water compared to everything we need,” Rosenboom said. “It won’t be a lot, it will be something.” If Trout Lake is used, public access to the lake could be curbed.
Staff have recently tested the infrastructure and are working with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to establish treatment options, including a mobile treatment plant.
A licence is also already in place for Grey Creek, which has more water available, and so staff are primarily focused on that source, Rosenboom said.
Following Rosenboom’s presentation, Sechelt director Darnelda Siegers made a motion to authorize the chair, staff and consultants to meet with the province in Victoria to advocate for necessary approvals related to measures to address the water supply situation, which was unanimously approved.
If such a meeting is granted, an invitation would also be sent to MLA Nicholas Simons, Sunshine Coast mayors and shíshálh Nation council. “If we have the whole Coast represented, it may have more weight,” Siegers said.
After the meeting, Siegers told Coast Reporter she was in favour of dropping the flow rates for part of the year.
According to Siegers, when a report that recommended the flow rate of 200 litres per second was completed, water could only be released manually from the Chapman Lake dam, “a costly and time consuming task,” which was why the 200 litre per second flow rate was set at all times. Since then, the dam has been upgraded and water can be released remotely.
“Given salmon won’t start spawning until at least August, the flow could be reduced until that time. This reduction of flow could buy us more time and more water and forestall moving to higher water stages sooner,” she said.
Meanwhile, staff are also working with Sunshine Coast Tourism to liaise with accommodation providers, restaurants and other tourism organizations to reduce water use. During the meeting, staff also said that when Stage 3 hits, enforcement will ramp up, with fewer warnings issued in advance of fines. So far, five written warnings have been issued, but no fines.
Approximately 540 leaks in the water system have been identified since early June, about six of which had leaks over 50 cubic metres per day. Because water meters are not yet universally installed on the Coast, those with leaks do not face penalties. Rosenboom told directors staff are “actively supporting people with finding leaks.”
The Eastbourne water system on Keats Island is also stressed this year, Rosenboom said, in part because the aquifer did not fully replenish after last year’s drought.
