Much of the province has now entered a ‘Level 4 or 5’ drought on a scale of zero to five as wildfires continue to rage throughout BC.
BC says that the province is still early in the season for the unprecedented level of drought our water basins are currently enduring.
With that, the province is urging people that water conservation is of the utmost importance.
As of Thursday, July 13th, four of BCs 34 water basins have reached a Level 5 drought — two of which are east and west Vancouver Island.
This level of drought means adverse impacts to socio-economic or ecosystem values are almost certain and water restrictions as well as regulation are the province’s recommended course of action.
BC says another 18 water basins are at a Level 4 drought, leaving two-thirds of the province in critical drought condition.
At this point, the drought conditions have worsened to the point that the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness along with provincial staff will be making an update every Thursday, weekly.
Despite the growing drought concern, Vancouver Island’s Level 5 designation by the province and neighbouring municipalities imposing regulations on water consumption, the Capital Regional District (CRD) currently remains at a ‘Stage 1’ in its watering schedule.
A Stage 1 in the CRD’s watering schedule is its default for summer which lasts from May 1st to September 30th and allows residents to water their gardens any time and their lawns twice a week on designated days depending on their address.
Communities with water-scarcity will be supplied drinking water by the province as restrictions and regulations surrounding water consumption and usage spread to more municipalities daily.
To aid British Columbians against the drought, the province says it will be releasing a Water Scarcity Dashboard which is intended to help First Nations and local authorities with their decision-making surrounding water supply and demand concerns.
