Water Conservation and Restrictions

Learn more about North Cowichan's water systems.

Overview of Water Restrictions

	STAGE 1	STAGE 2	STAGE 3	STAGE 4
Effective Date	May 1 - Oct 31 annually	Provincial Drought Code 31 : Effective Date As required	Provincial Drought Code 41 : Effective Date As required	Provincial Drought Code 51 : Effective Date As required

Conventional Irrigation Systems and Sprinklers
Lawns, Vegetable Gardens, Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Flower Gardens	2 hours/day Even addresses – Wed & Sat Odd Addresses – Thu & Sun	2 hours/day Even addresses – Wed Odd Addresses – Sun	Not permitted	Not permitted
New Lawns 2	2 hours/day Any day Requires Garden Irrigation Permit	1 hour/day Any day Requires Garden Irrigation Permit (permits must be obtained prior to Stage 2 restrictions)	1 hour/day Any day Requires Garden Irrigation Permit (permits must be obtained prior to Stage 2 restrictions)	Not permitted

Hand Watering, Micro/Drip Irrigation 3
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 Lawns 2	2 hours/day	1 hour/day	1 hour/day Requires Garden Irrigation Permit (ermits must be obtained before Stage 2 restrictions)	Not permitted

Other Outdoor Water Use
Filling Pools & Hot Tubs	No Restrictions	No Restrictions	Not Permitted 4	Not Permitted 4
Washing Vehicles or Boats	No Restrictions	No Restrictions	Permitted Under Certain Circumstances 5	Not Permitted
Washing Driveways, Houses and Sidewalks	No Restrictions	Permitted Under Certain Circumstances 5	Permitted Under Certain Circumstances 5	Not Permitted
Sports Fields 6	Reduced Watering	Reduced Water, Conservation Measures	Reduced or Eliminated Water	Reduced or Eliminated Water
Private Wells, Agriculture 7	Regulated by Provincial Government (Not Supplied from Community Potable Water Systems)

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.

For more information on the full Waterworks Bylaw and exemptions in place visit: Waterworks_Bylaw.pdf (northcowichan.ca) 

The Province monitors drought conditions and sets the Provincial Drought Code, which is a general indicator of the status of environmental conditions in various regions of BC. North Cowichan implements water restrictions in step with the Province’s drought level, while monitoring our water system demand and environmental conditions of our water sources. Water restrictions are adjusted, as needed, and generally align with the region’s other water providers. 

Operational changes during higher stage water restrictions:

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