Stage 4 Water Restrictions

STAGE 4 WATER RESTRICTIONS - EXTREME CONDITIONS 

Stage 4 restrictions implement stricter water conservation measures to maintain water supply during severe drought conditions or other water shortage.   

In addition to the following water restrictions, further measures may be implemented under this stage, if necessary, to maintain supplies during a period of critical water shortage.

Prohibited uses include:

• All lawn watering regardless of method
• Watering of new grass plantings (sod or seed). All local government permits issued for lawn watering are invalidated.
• For residents only: Wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows, or exterior building surfaces 
• General washing of vehicles and boats (see restrictions below)
• Fill or add water to a swimming pool, hot tub, garden pond or operate a decorative fountain (see restrictions below)

Restrictions include:

• Watering trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables
  • Watering by micro-irrigation or drip irrigation systems or by hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Provided residents work to minimize water use and use water only to the extent reasonably necessary to keep their plants alive. 
• Watering newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables 
  • At any time during the following 24 hours after installation using a hand held container or a hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.;
• Wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows, or exterior building surfaces 
  • Businesses can seek exceptions from the CVRD
  • Exception as necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative and stucco, preparing a surface prior to paving or repointing bricks, or if required by law to comply with health or safety regulations.
• Washing vehicles and boats: 
  • Only clean windows, lights, mirrors, license plates, and engines for safety reasons.
  • Allowed at at car dealerships and commercial car washes using less than 205 litres of water per vehicle wash or 50 percent recirculated water as long as the total amount of water, excluding recirculated water, does not exceed 205 litres per vehicle wash.
•  Filling of wading pools allowed if less than 200 centimeters in diameter may be filled 
  with water up to a maximum depth of 30 centimeters. 

Where reasonably possible, swimming pools, hot tubs, fountains and ponds should be drained for health and safety purposes and such water used for irrigation.

No new lawn permit shall be issued during Stage 4, and no new lawn permit, whenever issued, shall be valid during Stage 4.

Exceptions to Stage 4 Restrictions:

• Nurseries, farms, turf farms, and tree farms provided they employ best practices to minimize water use and use water only to the extent reasonably necessary. 
• Local government water parks and pools. 
• A business undertaking exterior commercial washing can apply for an exception to operate under Stage 4 through written request to the Regional District describing: 
  • the specific washing activity requested; 
  • the nature of the severe financial impact of deferring the work; 
  • the estimated volume of water to be used; and 
  • water-saving measures proposed. 
• The Regional District may approve, deny, limit, suspend, or revoke an exception to exterior commercial washing at any time, including  where water supply conditions worsen or where the business fails to comply with the terms of approval.

Reporting Water Restriction Infractions

Residents may be fined up to $500 per infraction if found using water contrary to Stage 4 water restrictions.