Nanaimo fairing well as provincial drought, smoky skies advisories issued
NANAIMO — The ground on Vancouver Island and much of the B.C. coast is bone dry, forcing the province to raise their drought rating.
It’s currently at level three, which calls for people to voluntarily reduce as much of their water use as possible, including not watering lawns, filling pools or washing cars. Municipalities and large industrial users are also being asked to cut back in the name of conservation.
Last year, the Nanaimo area reached Level 4 drought conditions by June and receded back to Level 3 by the beginning of August. Level 4 is the most serious drought condition.
This year, City director of engineering and public works Bill Sims said Nanaimo is on track to capably handle the drought. The water reservoir at Jump Lake was at full storage by spring and is expected to carry the area through the hot season and into the rainy fall.