On May 1 customers of the nine Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Water Service Areas will begin following Stage 2 watering restrictions. This means that sprinkling can only occur on even days for even-numbered houses and on odd days for odd-numbered houses. Sprinkling is permitted for a maximum of two hours between 7-10 am or 7-10 pm. Stage 2 will be in effect for May through September unless otherwise advised by the RDN.
Incremental watering restrictions are implemented each year between April and October by most water purveyors in the region to provide a proactive and predictable framework to guide sprinkling practices.
“We appreciate the continued support of our residents in taking water conservation measures early,” said RDN Chair Ian Thorpe. “It is necessary to ensure water demands for essential household use, fire protection, irrigation purposes and environmental flows can be met as we prepare for the dry summer period.”
The Stage 2 restrictions target automated sprinkler systems, to ensure they are operated efficiently and not wastefully. Hand-watering, drip irrigation and micro-irrigation can continue at any time. Vegetable and food gardens are exempt from the restrictions. Washing vehicles and outdoor surfaces is still permitted, as is filling fountains, hot tubs and pools.