News Release - April 18, 2018
RDN Water Service Areas Move to Stage 2 Watering Restrictions May 1
On May 1, 2018 customers of the nine RDN Water Service Areas will begin following Stage 2 watering restrictions. This means that sprinkling can only occur on even days for even-numbered houses and on odd days for odd-numbered houses. Sprinkling is permitted for a maximum of two hours between 7:00am-10:00am or 7:00pm-10:00pm.Incremental or staged watering restrictions are implemented each year between April and October by most water providers in the region, which is a proactive and predictable framework to guide sprinkling practices. This ensures water demands for essential household use, fire protection and irrigation purposes can be met as we prepare for the dry summer period.
"The Stage 2 restrictions target automated sprinkler systems, to ensure they are operated efficiently and not wastefully as we move into our dry season," said RDN Chair Bill Veenhof. "Under normal conditions, we expect to stay in Stage 2 - even-and-odd day watering - for the duration of the summer. We thank residents for doing their part to conserve water outdoors."
Hand-watering, drip irrigation and micro irrigation can continue at any time. Vegetable and food gardens are exempt from the restrictions. Washing vehicles and outdoor surfaces is still permitted, as is filling fountains, hot tubs and pools.
In addition to the nine RDN Water Service Areas (Nanoose Bay Peninsula, Englishman River Community (River's Edge), French Creek/ Sandpiper, San Pareil, Whisky Creek, Westurne Heights, Melrose Terrace, Decourcey (Pylades), and Surfside) other local water providers that are moving to Stage 2 Restrictions on May 1 include:
- City of Nanaimo
- City of Parksville
- EPCOR French Creek
- Bowser Waterworks District
- North Cedar Improvement District
- Southwest Extension Waterworks District
District of Lantzville will move to Stage 1 on May 1 and Stage 2 on June 1. Town of Qualicum Beach will move to Stage 1 on May 15. Other water service areas are not implementing restrictions at this time. Within the Regional Watering Restrictions Framework, water providers can move between the Stages at their discretion, based on their operational needs and approach. The generally utilized schedule is:
Stage 1 April and Oct - consists of night-time lawn watering only, 7:00pm - 7:00amFor more information on the water restriction stages for the region and a map that displays the water service areas including their current watering restrictions, visit www.teamwatersmart.ca.
Stage 2 May through Sept - limits use to "even and odd day" watering
Stage 3 Voluntary reductions on top of Stage 2 (only as required)
Stage 4 Bans non-essential outdoor water use (only as required)
Contact:
Julie Pisani
Drinking Water & Watershed Protection Coordinator
Regional District of Nanaimo
250-390-6586
[email protected]
| Water Service Area | Watering Restriction Stage on May 1, 2018 |
|---|---|
| RDN Water Service Areas (incl. Nanoose) |
STAGE 2 - May 1st
|
| City of Parksville | |
| City of Nanaimo | |
| Southwest Extension Waterworks District | |
| EPCOR French Creek | |
| North Cedar Improvement District | |
| Bowser Waterworks District | |
| District of Lantzville |
STAGE 1
|
| Town of Qualicum Beach (Starting May 15) |
|
| Deep Bay Improvement District | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| Qualicum Bay Horne Lake Waterworks | |
| Little Qualicum Waterworks |