Stage 4 Water Restrictions updated to balance a sustainable economy with water conservation practices during severe drought conditions
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) introduced a revised Comox Valley water conservation bylaw at the CVRD Board on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in response to the increasing frequency and severity of drought conditions and the need to conserve our community’s water supply. The updates include moving what was previously Stage 4 water restrictions to a new Stage 5 designation reserved exclusively for water system emergencies and introducing new Stage 4 water restrictions for extended periods of severe drought conditions.
"Updating the water conservation bylaw is a proactive step for the protection of our community’s wellbeing and the future of our water supply,” says Kris La Rose, CVRD General Manager of Engineering Services. “Given the unprecedented move to Stage 3 water restrictions earlier this year, we were faced with the possibility of an extended implementation of Stage 4 water restrictions. The severity of the previous bylaw’s Stage 4 restrictions was simply not feasible for businesses and food crops for prolonged amounts of time.”
The CVRD water licence requires all communities within the Comox Valley Water System to move to Stage 4 water restrictions when BC Hydro reduces flow in the Puntledge River to below 5.7 cubic metres per second. Although the CVRD has not historically experienced a move to Stage 4 in response to Puntledge River flows, climate patterns earlier this year indicated a possibility of Puntledge River flows dropping below this threshold for an extended period of time.
“The new Stage 4 water restrictions take a careful and measured approach to balancing strict water conservation efforts with basic community needs,” says La Rose. “While it is possible that Stage 4 restrictions may not be activated this year, the updated bylaw ensures that the region is well-prepared should severe drought conditions arise in the future.”
As the CVRD water licence only controls the activation of Stages 1 to 4 water restrictions, the addition of Stage 5 under the new bylaw means it can be reserved for emergency situations only, such as main breaks, earthquake, flood, wildland and interface fire, severe weather, or a prolonged power outage that causes significant impacts to the water system infrastructure.
Key bylaw updates include:
- Stage 3 Water Restrictions:
- Updated language for clarity.
- Updated language for exterior commercial washing.
- New Stage 4 Water Restrictions:
- Lawn watering of any kind is prohibited.
- Outdoor watering for gardens (including vegetable gardens) conditionally allowed to keep plants alive.
- Exceptions included for certain commercial and farming operations.
- Stage 5 Water Restrictions:
- All outdoor watering and cleaning are prohibited.
- Water use is limited strictly to essential purposes such as drinking, cooking, and sanitation.
For details and to view the complete list of prohibited and permissible water uses during each stage, view the updated water conservation bylaw here. Residents and businesses are urged to familiarise themselves with the updated bylaw to help protect the region’s water supply.
Additional information
- View the updated watering schedule for residents and businesses within the Comox Valley Water System
- Learn why we need water restrictions
- The CVRD manages five different water systems in the region. Learn more about the different systems and find out which system affects you
The Comox Valley Regional District is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media Contact:
Mike Herschmiller
Manager of Water Services
Phone: 250-334-6023