The Comox Valley Water System will move to Stage 3 water restrictions from Sept. 3-27. During this time BC Hydro will be draining their penstock for planned maintenance repairs, and the Comox Valley Regional District must move to its emergency back-up pump station to draw water from the Puntledge River.
“Stage 3 water restrictions are required as our back-up system isn’t able to handle peak demands for water,” said Marc Rutten, general manager of Engineering Services Branch. “When BC Hydro drains the penstock we depend on the community adhering to a higher stage of water restriction to ensure there’s enough water for indoor and firefighting use.”
During Stage 3 water restrictions, residential lawn and garden watering with a sprinkler is not permitted at any time. Residents are also prohibited from pressure-washing driveways and boulevards; filling a swimming pool, hot tub or garden pond; or washing a vehicle or boat other than in a commercial car wash or car dealership.
A person may:
Water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day between the hours of 6-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. if watering is done by hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle during installation and at any time during the following 24 hours after installation is completed.
Use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems to water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day between the hours of 6-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.
Water all-weather playing fields at any time, but only if failure to do so will result in a permanent loss of plant material.
Use water to wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows, or exterior building surfaces, but only if necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative, and stucco, preparing a surface prior to paving or repointing bricks, or if required by law to comply with health or safety regulations.
“We know this is a long period of time to adhere to Stage 3 and we ask for the community’s patience, understanding and compliance to ensure our back-up system is able to keep up with demand during this time,” said Rutten. “Once the new lake intake and treatment infrastructure is complete in the summer of 2021, these BC Hydro-driven watering restrictions will be a thing of the past.”
For more details about permitted and prohibited activities under Stage 3 visit