There are only 150 days’ worth of stored water left in Dawson Creek’s supply. In response to these depleting levels, stage three water conservation measures will come into effect in the city on Sept. 11.
Dawson Creek city council agreed to enact stage three water conservation measures – they will come into effect later this week.
City staff recommended the council level up their efforts because of the ongoing drought in northeastern B.C. and its impact on the water supply.
“Unless we get a lot of moisture this fall, we’re going to be into our reservoirs pretty soon by the looks of it,” said the city’s Mayor Darcy Dober.
Dawson Creek does not have any major bodies of water nearby. The city relies on the dwindling supplies of the Kiskatinaw River and a reservoir to get them through the warm dry seasons. Snow and ice from the winter and early-spring period make up large amounts of the water consumed in the city.
Restrictions stemming from the new stage of conservation efforts include a new once-a-week limit on lawn watering. It prohibits the watering of gardens, shrubs, and trees unless an automatic shut off valve is installed. The city is also requiring the use of these valves while washing sidewalks, cars, and other outdoor surfaces. Residents are not permitted to fill pools or hot tubs, and they cannot use a sprinkler for play.
Commercial water users in the city will face the same restrictions on non-potable bulk water use that they are currently dealing with under stage two restrictions.
Stage two water conservation efforts came into effect earlier this summer on July 25. Since this day, the mayor told his city councillors that water usage decreased in the community and commended their efforts.
Typically, the city rescinds its water conservation measures automatically on the last day of September. This year, however, the tightened restrictions will remain in place until Dawson Creek city council votes in favour of their revocation.
