Stage 1 water restrictions came into effect for the region on April 1, with more stringent limitations on automated watering systems coming May 1. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DRIP DRIP DRIP

Water restrictions come online, region well-stocked ahead of summer months

Apr 18, 2021 | 6:55 AM

NANAIMO — An above average snowpack in the Island backcountry won’t mean the region escapes water restrictions this year.

Stage 1 restrictions came into effect April 1, with watering hours restricted to the evening and overnight hour but placing few other limitations.

Julie Pisani, RDN drinking water and watershed protection program coordinator, told NanaimoNewsNOW, the region comes into the summer season well stocked with above average snowpack leading into both major watersheds.

“The upper elevation precipitation over the winter and early spring has meant the reservoir, for example the City of Nanaimo’s Jump Lake reservoir, is full.”

Despite the early season boost, stage two water restrictions will come into effect on May 1.

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It means even-numbered houses with automated sprinkler systems will only be permitted to water their lawns on even-numbered days, with odd-numbered houses on odd-numbered days.

Watering will only be allowed between 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for up to two hours.

“Generally we have a little bit of a learning curve at the start of the season and we push out this information a lot more at the start of may but generally people pick that up and comply, then set their automatic sprinkling systems so that the scheduling meets the water restrictions framework.”

Hand watering, drip irrigation or watering of food gardens are exempt.

The move is designed to be preventative and have the region prepared for a drought, regardless of what winter conditions were or summer forecasts are.

Weather conditions and volumes of precipitation vary wildly from the backcountry to populated city areas.

Pisani said rain gauges near the ocean, particularly in the Nanoose area showed precipitation levels 40 per cent lower than average, but it’s a different story inland.

“If we look back over the last couple of months, we actually had colder than average temperatures in February and March. Luckily we had quite above average snowpack accumulate in the mountains that we can see at our two snow pillow stations.”

The two stations flow into the Nanaimo and Englishman River watersheds which supply water for the mid-Island.

More information on the RDN’s water restrictions are available on their website.

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