Now that water restrictions are in place in the City of Parksville and the Regional District of Nanaimo, the PQB News was curious about what this water conservation practice means for the average resident, and how is it enforced?
Water conservation levels are region-wide, with each water service area having the opportunity to tailor the level to their needs, according to Deb Tardiff, manager of communications for the city.
Outdoor water conservation helps water systems be resilient to drought and supply water for essential needs, fire protection and environmental flows, according to Erica Forssman, RDN drinking water and watershed protection program co-ordinator.
The levels are set in an attempt to balance the needs of the several major water suppliers in the region, some large systems on surface water sources, other smaller systems on groundwater sources, Forssman said.
"We often think of coastal B.C. as having an abundant, if not overabundant supply of water. However, increasing population and changing climate means that demand is also increasing and changing," Forssman told the PQB News. "The quantity and quality of our water resources are directly impacted by human activity, including the amount we use on a daily basis."
Parkville water conservation comes into effect each year at the same time and has been in place for years. Over time, the framework has been adjusted as the city's summers became warmer, with less rain, according to Tardiff. The levels and effective dates are set by bylaw and are in place unless otherwise notified by the city.
Parksville entered Level 2 water conservation on May 1, the same day as most RDN water systems.
Not all water providers will initiate water conservation levels but if they do, each "stage" has a consistent definition across the region as part of a standardized framework to improve clarity, according to Forssman.
What about enforcement?
It depends on the municipality and water purveyor, according to the RDN.
"It's good practice to give a friendly reminder to members of the community of the current watering restriction level. Further action may be taken at the discretion of the municipality or water purveyor," Forssman said.
In general, RDN residents follow the restrictions and the regional district observes a reduction in use when conservation measures are in place, she added.
It's a similar story in Parksville, where only three tickets ($250 fine) were issued by bylaw last year, according to Tardiff.
Enforcement in Parksville can be complaint-based, and when in Level 3 or Level 4, there are patrols by bylaw compliance and the water utilities group. Public education is also used to gain compliance, she added.
From June 1 to Oct. 31, as a partner in the Arrowsmith Water Service, the city operates through an order from the province, which regulates the flow release from the Arrowsmith Lake Reservoir.
"The provincial enabling order determines when water conservation levels will be implemented to ensure an adequate water supply for the Englishman River to support the in-stream fish environment and the residents of Parksville," said Tardiff.
The Town of Qualicum Beach is a little different. Unlike neighbouring communities with surface water sources, or less productive wells, the town is in a unique situation where its well water sources are not as affected by snowpacks and seasonal fluctuations in rainfall, according to the town.
"The Town of Qualicum Beach’s water system is more than capable of supplying an abundance of water for the town’s growing population for years to come," according to its Water Restrictions FAQ page. "In fact, even as our population grows, data shows that water consumption continues to decrease, likely because of water efficient appliances and water conservation measures."
In Qualicum Beach, water restrictions are in place from May 15 to Sept. 15, so watering lawns and gardens is only permitted between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily. Hand watering is permitted at any time.
Water use per person depends on many factors such as type and distribution of irrigation systems, number of water-efficient appliances in the home and daily activities, according to the RDN.
Reports from the regional district see residents using an average of about 320 litres per person per day, but those numbers can fluctuate from year to year depending on factor such as length of drought season. Data on water use per person in Parksville is not available.
