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Stage 2 Watering Restrictions come into effect May 1

Even and Odd day watering will run until September 30

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed April 26, 2016 10:17 AM

Summary

On Sunday, May 1, Stage 2 watering restrictions will come into effect. Stage 2 is often called 'Even and Odd day watering' and is familiar to Nanaimo residents.

The City of Nanaimo, in cooperation with other water suppliers from North Cedar all the way to Deep Bay, recently adopted a unified approach to watering restrictions. All major water suppliers in the region will use the same classification for each watering restriction stage (Stages 1 through 4). Individual water suppliers determine the start date of each watering restriction stage. The City and Regional District of Nanaimo Water Service Areas have aligned their start dates for watering restriction Stages 1 and 2 and will be using the same allotted hours for watering. Timing of Stages 3 and 4 depend on the needs of each supplier, and depends on the level of stress experienced by the water supply.

For more information on the region-wide watering restrictions and an interactive map, visit www.teamwatersmart.ca.

Link to Strategic Plan: Water Conservation

Key Points

  • Stage 2 will run from May 1 to September 30. Even numbered addresses can water on even-numbered days of the month; odd numbered addresses can water on odd-numbered days of the month, for two hours only, between 7:00 am and 10:00 am OR between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
  • Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from restrictions.
  • Visit www.teamwatersmart.ca for an interactive map, a list of frequently asked questions and watering restriction stage in each area of the region.
  • Team WaterSmart will be running the Water Saver Contest again this year where residents can nominate their water-saving neighbour(s) for a chance to win a prize pack. The contest starts on May 1 and more information is available on the Team WaterSmart website.

Quotes

"The new watering restrictions are part of the City’s waterworks bylaw. While the new restrictions are defined the same way across the region there are changes for Nanaimo's residents. Stage 2 is familiar to Nanaimo, but starts a month earlier than previous years, and has more restrictive hours."

Bill Sims
Manager, Water Resources
City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

  • Stage 3 restrictions will only be brought into effect should water supplies become stressed. Stage 3 consists of voluntary reductions to avoid a full sprinkling ban, with the emphasis on cutting back on lawn watering. This approach was very effective in Nanaimo during the 2015 drought.
  • Stage 4 bans non-essential water use – particularly automated sprinkling, vehicle washing and outdoor surface washing – when supplies are stressed and voluntary reductions beyond Stage 2 are not sufficiently decreasing demand.
  • Vegetable watering and drip irrigation are exempt from restrictions. Exemptions for businesses which require water for operations, essential municipal playing fields and nurseries are also exempt, to minimize economic impact while conserving. This helps avoid challenges in applying the bylaw.

Videos

Shaw TV - Story on Watering Restrictions
Shaw TV - Story on Watering Restrictions

Attachments

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Contact:

Bill Sims
Manager, Water Resources
City of Nanaimo
250-758-5222
John Elliot
Manager, Utilities
City of Nanaimo
250-758-5222

Print News Release

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