The province has increased the drought rating to Level 3 for East Vancouver Island, and all water systems in the Cowichan region have moved to Stage 2 water restrictions effective immediately.
However, the Burnum water system at Shawnigan Lake remains at Stage 3 water restrictions.
In the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Municipality of North Cowichan, Stage 2 water restrictions require sprinkling with conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers be reduced to one day a week for lawns, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, and flower gardens.
The sprinkling is restricted to two hours a day on Wednesdays for even numbered houses, or Sundays for odd numbered houses.
Hand watering or micro-drip irrigation of ornamental trees, shrubs, and flower gardens will be restricted to a maximum of two hours per day; vegetable gardens and fruit trees are limited to four hours a day; and lawns can be sprinkled for one hour per day.
Those with micro or drip irrigation systems in the Burnam water system are responsible for the proper programming of the system so that the watering times comply with the restriction schedule.
Residents in the affected area in the Burnam water system will receive delivered notices with more information.
Sprinkling with conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers is not permitted during Stage 3 in the CVRD.
In addition, hand watering of lawns is not permitted, and the filling of pools and hot tubs is also not permitted.
Hand watering or micro-drip irrigation is permitted during Stage 3 for vegetable gardens and fruit trees at a maximum of two hours per day, and ornamental trees, shrubs, and flower gardens at a maximum of one hour per day.
