As the demand on the South Pender Water System hits "an all-time high," the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is moving users to Stage 3 "acute" restrictions, effective July 14.
The system's supply from McNeill Lake is "at risk due to prolonged dry weather" said a July 11 SCRD press release.
The move is "to ensure we only use what is permitted under the McNeill Lake water licence and help maintain supply for the remainder of the summer," Mark Brown, interim general manager of Infrastructure Services in the release, adding that the demand is at an all-time high. “If the current water use in South Pender continues without change, we will need to urgently move to Stage 4 (severe) water conservation regulations use.”
At Stage 3, no lawn watering is permitted. Trees, shrubs or flowers as well as food-producing plants and trees can only be watered with hand-held hoses with spray-trigger nozzles, hand-held containers or drip irrigation for up to one hour per day between 7 and 8 a.m. or 7 and 8 p.m. Watering with sprinklers, soaker hoses or micro-spray is not permitted. (The release noted that commercial, food-producing farms pay metered rates and are exempt from Stage 3 regulations.) Vehicles or boats can only be washed to remove sea water and the filling of swimming pools, spas, garden ponds and fountains is banned. The washing of sidewalks, driveways, windows or exterior building services is also banned, except for health and safety.
South Pender Harbour moved to Stage 2 restrictions on June 9.
Users of Chapman and Eastbourne Water Systems are at Stage 2 restrictions while users of Egmont, Cove Bay, North Pender Harbour, Langdale, Soames Point, and Grantham’s Landing Water Systems are at Stage 1. Gibsons, which manages and owns its own water system, is also at Stage 1.
To submit bylaw complaints to the SCRD regarding water, one must use the online form at www.scrd.ca/bylaw-complaint-form. The fine for restriction violations at Stage 3 is $400.
Anyone looking for more information about restrictions can call the SCRD at 604-885-6806, [email protected], or visit the website.
With files from Connie Jordison
