Users of the Comox Valley Water System and those living in the Black Creek – Oyster Bay areas are returning to Stage 2 water restrictions.
The Comox Valley Regional District has announced that as of tomorrow, these systems are easing from Stage 3 to Stage 2.
During Stage 2, you can only use a sprinkler to water a lawn and garden growing on a property with:
- An even numbered address – On Tuesday and Saturday between 6:00am and 8:00am, and 8:00pm and 10:00pm. They may not use a sprinkler to water the lawn or garden on any other day or time
- An odd numbered address – On Wednesday and Sunday between 6:00am and 8:00am, and 8:00pm and 10:00pm. They may not use a sprinkler to water the lawn or garden on any other day or time.
Local governments may use a sprinkler to water parks, ornamental lawns and grassed boulevards between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am on even numbered days for even numbered addresses and odd numbered days for odd numbered addresses.
For more details on Stage 2 restrictions, click here.
“We’d like to thank the region’s water users for following restrictions throughout this long dry summer,” said Mike Herschmiller, manager of water services for the CVRD.
“Our community faced a challenging drought this year, and we truly appreciate everyone’s conservation efforts.”
Both the BCOB and Comox Valley water systems shifted to Stage 3 in mid-August due to a long stretch of hot, dry weather.
For the Comox Valley Water System, the shift to Stage 3 was triggered by BC Hydro’s water flow reduction down the Puntledge River, which ensures water availability for fish habitat and migration.
Recent rains have enabled BC Hydro to increase river flows, and as a result the CVRD is able to downgrade water restrictions to Stage 2.
The BCOB water system is sourced from a combination of ground water wells and the Oyster River.
Over the summer, water levels in these sources dropped enough to warrant a shift to Stage 3.
But with the reduction in water use and the recent increase of rainfall, this system is also able to shift down to Stage 2 at this time.
The Comox Valley Water System includes the Comox, Courtenay, and the Comox Valley Water Local Service Area.
The BCOB water system includes Black Creek, Saratoga Beach and Oyster River.
