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Water restrictions return to Stage 1

Lawn watering is allowed again now that the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has called a return to State 1 outdoor water restrictions for its entire regional water system. Stage 1 was declared Sept.
Water restrictions
September has been off to a rainy start, and water restrictions have dropped to Stage 1, starting Sept. 16.

Lawn watering is allowed again now that the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has called a return to State 1 outdoor water restrictions for its entire regional water system.

Stage 1 was declared Sept. 16 and will be in place until the end of the month, which typically marks the end of the outdoor water use restriction period.

The return to Stage 1 also applies to Gibsons residents who use Zone 3 water. Those in Zone 1 and 2 are on Stage  1.

People with even-numbered addresses can water their lawns on Thursdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and those with odd numbered addresses can water Wednesdays and Saturdays during the same hours.

Sprinkling is allowed for trees, shrubs, flowers and food producing plants on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for even-numbered addresses and during the same times on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for odd-numbered addresses.

Outdoor plants, including lawns, can be watered anytime if handheld hoses with shut-off mechanisms are used.

Sidewalks, driveways, windows and buildings can also now be pressure washed.

“The SCRD would like to thank all regional water customers for their diligence in conserving water through this summer,” stated a release announcing the change.

This season the region escaped Stage 4 water restrictions, which bans all outdoor watering, despite a drought in early spring, which left snowpack levels in the Tetrahedron well below average. Stage 4 water restrictions have been declared in three of the past four summers and in 2012.

Last year, Stage 4 was declared Aug. 31 and after significant rains the system returned to Stage 2 in mid-September.

The run of Stage 4 declarations and pressure to accommodate food growers prompted directors to change to the drought management plan this year, including banning lawn watering at Stage 2 and creating a special category for farmers in order to allow them to be exempt from restrictions until Stage 4.

As with last year, water use increased when rains diminished. Water use was higher than the SCRD’s targets for most of July.

More information about regulations can be accessed by calling the SCRD at 604-885-6806 or the Town of Gibsons at 604-886-2274 or by visiting www.scrd.ca/Sprinkling-Regulations.