City of Nelson ushers in Level Four water restrictions
By Nelson Daily Staff
Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak said in a media release that despite the recent wet weather, the City of Nelson is moving to Level Four water restrictions effective Friday, September 11.
The decision comes after weather models forecast a drier, warmer fall and winter for the Southern Interior.
“We all need to chip in on this,” Mayor Kozak said in a media release.
“We really need local residents and businesses to closely observe the Level Four restrictions, and looking towards fall and winter, focus on conserving water indoors.
Kozak says the public’s adherence to last month’s Level Three restriction request was strong, and much appreciated.
However, the Mayor notes that while the recent rain helped, the moisture won’t be enough to make a big difference for long.
Mayor Kozak said water supply is always the lowest in the Fall and Winter and the city is 100% reliant on rainfall to maintain the water supply.
Climate models also indicate a greater than 90 percent chance that the El Nino weather phenomenon will be prevalent this fall and winter, and that’s generally marked in Southern BC by warmer, drier weather than usual.
“Our goal is a permanent reduction in indoor water usage of 20 percent,” Kozak said, adding forecast is for 40 percent less precipitation this fall and winter, and perhaps next spring too.
“This will provide the resiliency we need in our water system and help us better manage drought conditions. This is a very attainable goal that I know we can achieve.”
Level Four Restrictions are more stringent than those in the summer. Here are the new rules everyone is being asked to follow:
- No watering of lawns and boulevards
- No vehicle washing except at commercial car washes
- No washing of buildings, driveways, exterior windows or parking lots
- No filling of pools, garden ponds or hot tubs
- Trees, shrubs, vegetables and flowers may be watered with a hand-held container or a hose with a shut-off nozzle, micro-irrigation or drip line, daily, from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Kozak said to help monitor residents, the City is hiring an autumn-season Water Smart Ambassador to answer questions about water conservation efforts, assess your home or business’s water use, and help monitor Level Four restrictions.
Noting that September and October water flow is always low, City of Nelson Public Works Director Colin Innes says close observations of the City’s water supply noted that discharge from creeks that feed the reservoir was at times the lowest on record, late last month.
In preparation for a warmer, drier fall and winter, Mayor Kozak says there are a lot of easy ways to reduce your water use inside too.
Toilets typically use over 25% of all household water. Showers and washing machines take more than another third — that’s over two-thirds of your house’s water supply right there.
To learn how you can reduce water use inside your home, visit the Columbia Basin Water Smart Program’s website and the BC Government’s Living Water Smart website.
Story originated at The Nelson Daily https://thenelsondaily.com/news/city-nelson-ushers-level-four-water-restrictions-39162#.VfO0CM7QoUU
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