Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish wants to challenge town residents to go a day using only 50 litres of water.
Beamish proclaimed May as “Gibsons Water Month” at the April 16 council meeting.
In a report accompanying the proclamation, Beamish wrote, “The Sunshine Coast has experienced drought conditions annually during the five most recent summers. Our resources and communities are challenged by annual water shortages that require conservation and severe restrictions on water use that are projected to continue until alternate sources or reservoirs are available.”
He said that a some point during the province-wide Water Week, which is also in May, the Town will declare a “Day Zero” when it will ask people to take the “Cape Town Challenge.”
Day Zero was the phrase used by officials in Cape Town, South Africa during a severe water shortage in 2018 to signify when the water supply would run out. Through stringent conservation measures they were able to keep Day Zero from coming.
“In recognition that we also have serious water supply issues in parts of the Sunshine Coast, we’ve developed a program called the Gibsons Cape Town Challenge … which is getting by for one day on 50 litres of water as opposed to the approximately 250 litres per person, per day currently used,” Beamish said.
Beamish said the Town is working closely with School District No. 46 to get students involved. “We’re going to ask students to sign up to take the challenge. We’ll have some incentive prizes for them. We’ll also have incentive prizes for students who come up with the best ideas for water conservation during that period of time.”
Beamish told Coast Reporter that he’s been in touch with his counterparts in Cape Town, who’ve offered support as well as advice and resources.
Cape Town is drafting a new water strategy in the wake of last year’s water emergency, and in an email to Beamish from the city’s water and waste committee, said, “We are naturally keen for the Cape Town story to be viewed as one of success, and an illustration of what can be achieved when all sectors of society come together with a common goal.
Beamish said he’s still finalizing plans with SD46 for student participation, which he hopes will get their families involved as well, and exploring ways to get the Sunshine Coast Regional District and the District of Sechelt on board.
