The City of Chilliwack is moving to stage 3 watering restrictions to conserve water into the fall after a discussion and vote by council Tuesday afternoon (July 19).
City council approved extending the summer watering restriction period until Oct. 15, as well as instituting new triggers for implementing further restrictions.
“As dry conditions continue throughout the province, there are lots of small actions we can all take to help conserve water,” said Mayor Ken Popove. “For example, you can take shorter showers, turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, only run full loads of laundry or dishes, and regularly check your home for leaks.”
The extension of the stage 2 watering restrictions period “better reflects” when groundwater starts to naturally recharge in the fall after the dry summer period, according to city officials, and the new triggers for each stage of watering restrictions are based on current aquifer conditions.
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Under stage 3 watering restrictions, lawn watering days and times are reduced. Even numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays only now, and odd numbered addresses may water on Thursdays only, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. only.
Under stage 2 restrictions there were more days and times available for lawn watering, such as an evening window for watering.
Additional restrictions include only watering gardens with a handheld container or hose with a shut off device or soaker, and only using water features like fountains if they are recirculating.
Non-recirculating water features using treated water are prohibited, as well as non-permeable surface washing for aesthetic purposes such as pressure washing driveways.
For more information about watering restrictions, visit chilliwack.com/water. For more information about province-wide drought conditions, visit the BC Drought Information Portal.
“Stage 3 watering restrictions are now in effect until Oct. 15, unless otherwise announced by the city.”
RELATED: Whole region in drought conditions last fall
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