Due to extremely low water levels caused by the record-breaking dry weather conditions this spring
and summer, and the absence of any significant snowpack over the winter, the Comox Valley Regional
District (CVRD) will move to stage three water restrictions effective Monday, July 20, 2015 for the
Black Creek – Oyster Bay water system.
The inflows to the Oyster River are extremely low right now, therefore, the CVRD will be switching
to the ground water wells very shortly.
“We’re asking all residents to turn off their automatic lawn sprinklers, refrain from using manually operated sprinkler systems, and not to wash their vehicles or boats,” said Dave Leitch, CVRD’s senior
manager of water and wastewater services. “We need to change our outdoor water use habits.
“By reducing water use, we can minimize the withdrawal from the wells.”
Stage three is the most extreme water restriction and essentially requires all homeowners to use water
only when completely necessary. During stage three the following activities are prohibited:
o Watering lawns (with manual or automatic sprinklers) or pressure washing driveways or
boulevards at any time
o Filling or adding water to a hot tub or garden pond at any time
o Washing a vehicle or a boat at any time (other than in a commercial car wash or car
dealership)
Watering trees, flowers, and vegetables using a hand-held nozzle, watering container, microirrigation
or drip-irrigation is permitted on any day from 4 am to 9 am and from 7 pm to 10 pm.
These water restrictions apply to properties connected to the Black Creek – Oyster Bay water system.
For more information on the restrictions, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions.
Meanwhile the Village of Cumberland and those properties connected to the Royston
water system will move to stage 3 water restrictions starting on July 20, 2015 due to lower than
usual water levels in the Cumberland Creek and Perseverence Creek watersheds resulting from
the lack of significant rainfall over the last few months.
The stage three restrictions, along with a reduction in hours at the Cumberland children’s water
spray park, are necessary to maintain a sufficient supply of community water through the
summer and fall. The Village is looking at other methods to reduce the amount of water being
used at the spray park, but a reduction in hours will also be necessary as the park is using up to
120m3 of water a day. The water from the spray park drains into the Cumberland wetlands and
into the Trent River.
“Residents are doing a great job conserving water and reducing their outdoor water use,” says
Mayor Leslie Baird. “The move in Cumberland and Royston to metered water has also made a
positive impact on reducing water use. Moving to stage 3 is a preventative step to make sure
we have enough water to last over the summer in case we don’t receive enough rain in the
coming weeks to fill the reservoirs.”
Stage 3 requires all homeowners to limit outdoor water use and to water your garden and trees
only in the early mornings and evenings to reduce the amount of evaporation from the sun.
The use of mulch in the garden is another effective way to reduce evaporation. Residents are
encouraged to water around the base of plants slowly, deeply and less frequently. Light,
frequent watering can be harmful to plants as it encourages shallow root growth.
The following activities are prohibited during stage 3 restrictions: watering lawns and washing
driveways; filling a swimming pool or hot tub; washing a vehicle or a boat except at a
commercial car wash using less than 57 litres of water. These water restrictions apply to all
Cumberland residents and to Royston properties connected to the Royston water system.
