District of Squamish Stage 1 water restrictions go into effect Monday, May 1

Year-round water conservation essential to protecting fresh water supply

The snow has melted, the flowers are blooming, and growing season is right around the corner. Each year, the District of Squamish’s water consumption nearly doubles during the hot, dry months, which means the time to start thinking about water conservation is now. District of Squamish Stage 1 water restrictions go into effect Monday, May 1. During Stage 1, lawn watering with a sprinkler is permitted two days per week from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“We are fortunate to have fresh, high-quality drinking water that is some of the best in the region, but it is still a finite resource that should never be taken for granted,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “Practicing water conservation year-round makes it even easier for us to ensure we can responsibly manage our supply, especially during the hot summer months when demand comes close to exceeding our pumping capacity, and puts added pressure on our fire flow capabilities.”

The District’s Water Conservation Plan aims to reduce water consumption per capita by 15% by 2031, which can be achieved if residents take small steps to reduce their daily consumption, whether it’s one less toilet flush per day, 30 seconds less in the shower, or only a fraction of a minute less time spent watering the lawn.

Follow these tips to do your part in reducing water consumption:

• Water deeply, but less frequently: An established lawn needs only 2.5 cm of water per week. How much is enough? Place an upside-down Frisbee or empty tuna can on your lawn when watering. Stop watering when the Frisbee is full or there is 2.5 cm of water in the tuna can.
• Let your lawn go brown and dormant in the summer months: Try watering just once a month in July and August.A healthy lawn will green up again as rainfall resumes in the fall.
• Adjust sprinkler heads to water greenery, not the driveway or sidewalk. You can also invest in a timer and set it to your allowed watering days.
• Invest in a rain sensor for your in-ground irrigation system. If it rains, the irrigation will automatically turn off.
• Make every drop count. Water early or late in the day to reduce evaporation, build your soil with compost and mulch, and choose low water use plants.

Fast facts:

• One less toilet flush per day conserves six litres of water.
• Shortening your shower by just one minute conserves nine litres of water.
• A family of four could save up to 160,000 litres of water annually by using a high-efficiency shower head.
• A family of four could save up to 30,000 litres of water annually by using a high-efficiency toilet.
• Nearly 22% of indoor home water use comes from doing laundry.
• Washing your vehicle with a self-closing nozzle could save up to 300 litres of water per wash which is the equivalent to 33 buckets of water.

May 7 to 13, 2017 is B.C. Water Week, an important reminder to all British Columbians of the value of our drinking water and the importance of conserving, protecting and supporting our water resources and systems. For B.C. Water Week events and fun facts about our water visit http://www.valueofwater.ca/event/bc-water-week-2017.

For more information on the District’s water system, Outdoor Water Use Bylaw and Well Protection Plan visit squamish.ca/water. To view and download the District’s Outdoor Water Use Chart visit http://squamish.ca/assets/water/Outdoor-Water-Use-Chart.pdf.

April 21, 2017