Record water consumption during the July long weekend put a serious strain on water reservoirs along the Coast. Coasters used more than 27 million litres of water on Monday, June 30. That is 300,000 plus litres more than the last record set. This is not something to be proud of, said Don Gare, Sunshine Coast Regional District's (SCRD) utilities supervisor.
"We had some of the hottest weather that we get a couple of times a summer and people weren't doing what they were being asked to," Gare said referring to watering restrictions.
Sunshine Coast residents use twice as much water per household as the average Canadian. More than 50 per cent of water used during summer months is for lawns, flowers and gardens, according to the SCRD.
Water usage during the three days of the Canada Day long weekend was unusually high, taxing the system that can see 25 million litres of output before it is at risk for water shortages. To give some context, the SCRD might use only 12 million litres on a rainy winter day, Gare said.
"We can't sustain the fluctuation. We'd have to double storage and triple the treatment plant to keep up," said Dave Crosby, operations co-ordinator. He added the plant costs the SCRD more than $400,000 a year to keep water safe, clean and evenly distributed among the 18 reservoirs on the Coast.
Kevin Johnson, senior water technician, said it is a popularly held myth that summer consumptions skyrocket because of seasonal visitors.
"Eighty per cent of the water consumption is from the full-time population," he said.
Dion Whyte, manager of sustainability services, said they plan to get aggressive in making people aware of restrictions through public service announcements on the radio, advertising in the newspaper, signage on Highway 101 and going door-to-door to speak with residents if they have to.
Gare said they are also not afraid to cut the water off if some residents become habitual breakers of the restrictions. The SCRD is hoping that pressure from neighbours will keep people in check within the community.
"What people may not realize is this is not simply a drinking water issue. It is a very real fire hazard concern," said Crosby. "If reservoirs are depleted or always low because of high consumption, our communities are at risk if a fire breaks out. That is why the district is so concerned, especially if we get a hot and dry weather spell this summer."
Currently, there is no sprinkling permitted Friday and Saturday evenings and no sprinkling allowed on Sundays at any time. Odd numbered addresses can sprinkle Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 7 and 10 a.m., and Monday and Wednesday between 7 and 9 p.m. Even numbered addresses can sprinkle on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings during the same time periods.
Pender Harbour watering is as follows: odd numbered addresses 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on odd calendar dates while even numbered addresses have the same times on even calendar dates.
