Users on Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) water systems south of Pender Harbour are under Stage 3 restrictions as of Sept. 1. The Town of Gibsons is following suit for properties in Zone 3. Zones 1 and 2, which are supplied by the aquifer, will remain at Stage 2.
As of Aug. 27, people on SCRD water systems were using 19.2 million litres a day, 28 per cent more than the conservation targets.
Stage 3 means a ban on the use of sprinklers or soaker hoses to water lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers or vegetables, including newly seeded or sodded lawns. Using water to wash sidewalks, driveways, vehicles, boats or equipment is also prohibited, along with filling residential swimming pools, hot tubs, wading pools, garden ponds or decorative fountains.
People can still water using hand-held containers or hoses with a spray-trigger nozzle.
As well as tighter water use restrictions, the Sunshine Coast will be under a campfire ban on the Labour Day weekend for the first time in five years.
Even during the drought of 2015, the ban was lifted in the final week of August, but assistant fire information officer Dorthe Jakobsen of the Coastal Fire Centre said they expect fire danger ratings to remain at extreme until there’s a significant change in the weather.
Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures near 30 C for the long weekend. The typical daytime high at this time of year is 21.
Jakobsen said even though the nights are getting longer and cooler, it’s not enough to dampen forest floors enough to reduce the risk.
The Coastal Fire Centre has reported fewer fires this season with 84 so far, but 79 of them have been person-caused.
Jakobsen said the Fire Centre’s message heading into the long weekend is simple. “Be safe and be careful. You can still use CSA and ULC approved stoves and portable campfires and propane barbecues, but because it’s still so dry out and hot we’re asking people to please be very careful.”
