Provincial drought level increases; Nanaimo's watering restrictions at Stage 3

Nanaimo's watershed has adequate water supply to carry through until fall

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed August 25, 2021 10:30 AM

Summary

The Province of BC has declared Drought Level 5 for Eastern Vancouver Island - its highest level, reflecting extremely dry conditions. The City of Nanaimo will remain at Stage 3 Water Restrictions until October 1, 2021. Nanaimo currently has an adequate amount of surface water stored in the reservoirs in the Nanaimo River Watershed to sustain the community's needs throughout this drought, including necessary environmental flows. Water conservation efforts are always essential to ensure this supply continues to be available for fire protection and future daily needs.

The City of Nanaimo will be staying at Stage 3 Water Restrictions, while some of our neighbours within the Regional District of Nanaimo, who depend on different water sources, have moved to stage 4. The City of Nanaimo continues to encourage conservative use of water at all times; this helps avoid further elevation of restrictions.

Under Nanaimo's current Stage 3 Water Restrictions, even and odd day watering days based on address number are in place, for a maximum of two hours of sprinkling between 7-10 AM or 7-10 PM. Residents are encouraged to go further and voluntarily reduce all non-essential outdoor water use, including curtailing lawn watering and refraining from washing cars or outdoor surfaces.

Thank you to all residents for continuing to help conserve Nanaimo's water and ensure our resilience to drought.

Link to Strategic Plan: Watering restrictions support a community that is environmentally responsible.

Key Points

The City of Nanaimo is at Stage 3 Water Restrictions until October 1, 2021. There is still adequate water in our watershed to continue supplying the City and to meet potential fire-fighting demand.
Under Nanaimo's current Stage 3 Watering Restrictions, even and odd day watering days based on address number are in place, for a maximum of two hours of sprinkling between 7-10 AM or 7-10 PM. Residents are encouraged to go further and voluntarily reduce all non-essential outdoor water use.

Quotes

"Water. We turn the tap and it flows, clean, pure and plentiful. The incredible supply of water in our watershed is one more reason that Nanaimo is one of the greatest places to be. If we stay the course of our stage 3 restrictions, then we'll have enough water to go the distance, quench our thirst, and fight potential fires, even in this summer's record-breaking heat."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

The Province of BC declared Drought Level 5 for Vancouver Island on Friday, August 20, 2021 - the most severe level of drought on the scale.

Contact:

For media enquiries, please contact

Communications

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

Media.Requests@nanaimo.ca

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