Water Use Restrictions
current conditions
This page provides information on:
- Current water restrictions by jurisdiction
- Details of regional water use restrictions
- Water restrictions FAQ
Water Use Restrictions
Current water restrictions by jurisdiction
While the CVRD and member municipalities have co-ordinated water use restrictions across the region, some Improvement Districts and private water systems may choose to apply different restrictions. In some instances, the characteristics of certain water sources may require certain water systems or jurisdictions to move to a higher stage of water use restrictions earlier than neighbouring communities. Click on the toggles below to determine the current water use restrictions for your area.
Use the map below to see which water system serves your property and what your current water use restrictions are.
Water Restrictions Map
- During drought conditions, your water system operator may introduce water use restrictions to conserve limited water supplies.
- There are four stages of water restrictions which are co-ordinated across the Cowichan Valley.
- Local conditions may sometimes require a higher stage of water restrictions on certain systems.
Legend
No |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4 |
Unserviced Area |
Unknown |
Water Use Restrictions
Local governments use 4 levels of watering restrictions as shown below. Note that private utilities are not managed by our system – please call your provider and inquire about their conservation program and possible water restrictions. Click here for a printable version of the water restrictions chart.
Watering Regulation Summary Table
Watering restrictions have been updated for 2022. The new regulations apply to the Municipality of North Cowichan, City of Duncan, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Cowichan Tribes, Town of Lake Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith, Diamond Improvement District, Stz’uminus First Nation, Mill Bay Water District, and Cowichan Bay Waterworks.
Sprinkling and hand-watering is NOT permitted between 9:00am and 7:00pm. See the table below for water days and other restrictions.
Stage 1 Sprinkling 2 hours maximum, 2 days per week.
Stage 2 Sprinkling 2 hours maximum, 1 day per week.
Stage 3 NO SPRINKLING. Hand-watering / Micro or drip irrigation subject to daily maximum for food or ornamental gardens.
Stage 4 ALL USE OF WATER FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN DRINKING, FOOD PREPARATION AND PERSONAL HYGIENE IS SUBJECT TO STAGE 4 RESTRICTIONS. No sprinkling. Hand-watering, micro or drip irrigation subject to daily maximum for food or ornamental gardens.
Please check the local newspaper or each water provider’s website during the summer months to see if Stage 2, Stage 3 or Stage 4 restrictions are in effect.
STAGE 1May 1 to Oct. 31 |
STAGE 2Provincial Drought Level 3 |
STAGE 3Provincial Drought Level 4 |
STAGE 4As Required1 |
|
Conventional Irrigation Systems and Sprinklers |
||||
Lawns, Vegetable Gardens, Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Flower Gardens |
2 hours /dayEven Addresses – Wed & Sat |
2 hours /dayEven Addresses – Wed |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
New Lawns2 |
2 hours /dayAny Day |
1 hour /dayAny Day |
1 hour /dayAny Day |
Not Permitted |
Hand Watering, Micro / Drip Irrigation3 |
||||
Vegetable Gardens, Fruit Trees |
4 hours /day |
4 hours /day |
2 hours /day |
2 hours /day |
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Flower Gardens |
2 hours /day |
2 hours /day |
1 hour /day |
1 hour /day |
Lawns |
2 hours /day |
1 hour /day |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
New Lawns2 |
2 hours /day |
2 hours /day |
1 hour /dayRequire Garden Irrigation Permit (Permits must be Obtained Prior to Stage 2) |
Not Permitted |
Other Outdoor Water Use |
||||
Filling Pools and Hot Tubs |
No Restrictions | No Restrictions | Not Permitted4 | Not Permitted4 |
Washing Vehicles or Boats |
No Restrictions | No Restrictions | Permitted Under Certain Circumstances5 | Not Permitted |
Washing Driveways, Houses and Sidewalks |
No Restrictions | Permitted Under Certain Circumstances5 | Permitted Under Certain Circumstances5 | Not Permitted |
Sport Fields6 |
Reduced Watering | Reduced Watering, Conservation Measures | Reduced or Eliminated Watering | Reduced or Eliminated Watering |
Private Wells, Agriculture7 |
Regulated by Provincial Government (Not Supplied from Community Potable Water Systems) |
Notes
1 Stage 2 and 3 restrictions will be imposed in conjunction with the corresponding Provincial Drought Code. Jurisdictions may move to a given Stage ahead of the corresponding Provincial Drought Code based on state of the water system.
2 Irrigation of new lawns must follow the restrictions for established lawns. If additional watering is required, a permit must be obtained at which point water restrictions for New Lawns must be followed.
3 Micro/drip irrigation delivers water to the root zone of the plants and uses less than 90 L/hr (20 imperial gallons per hour) at less than 25 psi. Weeper hoses are considered micro/drip irrigation, and are permitted; soaker hoses are not permitted. A weeper hose emits water through very small pores in the rubber; there is no water spray stream emitted from the hose, resulting in less evaporation than a soaker hose. A soaker hose has holes that are large enough to emit water as a spray stream, resulting in more evaporation than a micro/drip irrigation system or a weeper hose.
4 Pools filled prior to Stage 3 water use restrictions being implemented may be topped up to account for evaporation losses in order to avoid damage to pumps, etc. Municipal recreation facilities exempt.
5 For residential properties, washing driveways, houses or sidewalks is only permitted during Stages 2 and 3 in preparation for applying paints, preservatives or for pouring concrete. Residential washing (i.e. not at a car wash facility which reuses water) of vehicles and boats is only permitted in Stage 3 in preparation of applying paints or preservatives. Commercial enterprises which require water use to facilitate normal business activities are exempt from some Stage 2 and 3 water restrictions. These include nurseries, turf farms or tree farms, car wash / detailers, power washing companies, window washing companies, etc.
6 School and Municipal playing fields are often sand-based and require regular watering. For that reason they are exempt from sprinkling regulations. Regardless, efforts are made to reduce water use and the irrigation timings are adjusted to reduce evaporation and avoid times of higher water consumption.
7 If necessary the Provincial Government can require the curtailment of water use for private wells and for agricultural purposes.
CVRD Water Systems
Municipal Water Systems
Improvement Districts
Private Water Systems
Why are school and municipal playing fields exempt from the restrictions?
What about gardens, flower beds, and trees?
What about my car or boat – can I wash them?
What about a newly sodded lawn?
Do these restrictions apply to soaker hoses or in-ground sprinkler systems?
What about micro irrigation, drip irrigation systems and weeper hoses?
Conservation measures for these methods of irrigation are less stringent as they reduce evaporation losses by delivering the water directly to where the plants need them as well as having significantly lower flow ratings than other methods of irrigation. For the reasons stated above these types of systems are allowed to operate even during Stage 3 and 4 restrictions.
What's the difference between a weeper and a soaker hose?
Why 7 pm to 9 am?
Can I hose down my house or other outdoor surface?
If I pay my taxes why can’t I water my lawn whenever I want?
If I live in a strata, how do I determine my watering day?
Can my kids still play in the sprinkler?
If there is a total sprinkling ban, will my lawn die?
I can't meet the alternate day and time restrictions. What should I do?
My fertilizer-pesticide-herbicide application requires watering outside my designated watering time?
I am not connected to a municipal or CVRD water supply. I use a private well or water source for lawn watering. Do the water use restrictions apply to me?
What is considered wasting water?
- Allowing irrigated water to puddle or run off a lawn into the storm drain system
- Allowing irrigation water to be sprayed onto a paved surface such as sidewalks, driveways, roadways, curbs, or gutters
- Washing of vehicles with a hose not equipped with spring-loaded nozzle or shut off valve at the discharge end of the hose.
Why are there exemptions for commercial enterprises?
My neighbour is not using water in accordance with the water use restrictions. How do I report this offence?
How does my local government enforce the water use restrictions?
Local Government Contacts
CVRD
City of Duncan
Telephone: 250.746.6126