With the onset of summer and mercury forecast to rise to the mid- to high-20s into next week, residents in Nanaimo and region are reminded about restrictions when watering lawns.
As of Thursday, July 3, eastern Vancouver Island is listed at Level 2 on the B.C. government's drought level measuring system, indicating conditions with increasing dryness. According to a press release from the Regional District of Nanaimo, there was little rainfall in June, as well as below-average snowpack.
A majority of RDN water service areas entered into Stage 3 restrictions at the end of June, which only permits odd-number addresses to water on Mondays and even-number addresses to water on Thursdays.
The City of Nanaimo is currently in Stage 2 watering restrictions, which allows for residents with even number addresses watering on even number days and residents with odd number addresses doing the same on odd-number days. Watering is allowed for a total of two hours a day or less, and can be done between 7-10 a.m. or 7-10 p.m. At this time, drip and micro irrigation, washing of vehicles, boats and the sides of houses, filling pools, fountains and hot tubs and pressure washing is also allowed by the city.
As of Friday, July 4, the District of Lantzville is entering Stage 4 restrictions, which bans lawn watering. Hand-watering and drip irrigation for trees, shrubs and vegetables can only occur between 7-10 a.m. or 7-10 p.m. Vehicles, boats and houses may only be washed for safety purposes.
For more information on RDN watering restrictions, go to http://rdn.bc.ca/watering-restriction-map and for City of Nanaimo, go to www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions.
