With the first-ever Stage 3 restrictions coming into force for the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) South Pender water system July 14, last month’s average residential demand was at 865 litres per day. That’s down from the previous month’s daily average of 1,183 litres.
The system's usage average in July was lower than in the 2022 periods of July (1,394 litres), August (1,100 litres) and September (877 litres), SCRD statistics shared with Coast Reporter showed. In comparison, litres used this July by the SCRD’s North Pender residential water clients (on Stage 1 restrictions) averaged 1,254 and the Chapman system's (at Stage 2) daily average was at 949. Daily home usage levels at 800 litres or lower were recorded for its Langdale, Cay Cove and Egmont systems last month.
McNeill Lake, the South Pender system’s primary water supply, was at 21 inches (just over 53 cm) below capacity level, regional district staff reported in an Aug. 8 email Coast Reporter. They stated that summer levels at the lake over the past five years fell within the “range of minus seven to minus 28 inches." To both protect the lake and maintain South Pender’s water supply, regional district staff recently completed “channel clearing” from feeder source Harris Lake.
“Staff are releasing water from Harris Lake to slow lake level drop in McNeil Lake and are continuing to plan short and mid-term solutions to access more water from Harris Lake,” the email stated.
No details of any additional solutions were shared.
