BC urges water conservation as drought conditions worsen for parts of Vancouver Island

British Columbians are being urged to conserve water over the coming weeks as drought conditions worsen for many regions of the province, including parts of Vancouver Island. 

As of this publication, the East Vancouver Island region, which spans from Sayward to Greater Victoria, is experiencing a ‘Level 4’ drought. 

This level of drought in British Columbia indicates “extremely dry conditions” where water supply is insufficient to fully meet socio-economic and ecosystem needs. 

Level 4 is the second-most severe classification on the province’s zero to five drought scale, and means impacts to wildlife, fish, agriculture and local industries are highly likely. 

West Vancouver Island is only experiencing a Level 2 drought, indicating “very dry” conditions and serving as an early warning that water supplies are becoming stressed.

Currently, around 63% of the province is experiencing a Level 0 drought, 17% has been deemed Level 1, 10% is at Level 2, 5% is at Level 3 and just under 5% is at Level 4. No water basin in BC has been determined to be experiencing a Level 5 drought. 

“Protecting BC’s water resources is a shared responsibility, and the actions we take today will help communities, farmers and businesses manage increasing drought pressures,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. 

“We are working closely with First Nations, local governments, industry and the agricultural sector to support water conservation and long-term water security. By working together and reducing water use where we can, we can help protect fish and wildlife, support farmers who depend on reliable water supplies and strengthen the resilience of our communities.”

Residents of areas with heightened drought conditions are encouraged to reduce water use wherever possible to help protect local watersheds and reduce the risk of water scarcity. 

On the BC Drought Portal, the Province provides the following tips for reducing water usage, both indoors and outdoors:

• Take shorter showers (five minutes or less) – saves up to 2,700 litres per year
• Turn off the tap when brushing or shaving – saves up to 8,300 litres per year
• Fix leaky toilets – saves up to 350,000 litres per year
• Skip the car wash – saves up to 260 litres per vehicle
• Run full loads of laundry – saves up to 200 litres per load
• Fill the sink if washing by hand
• Keep a jug of cool water in the fridge instead of running the tap
• Follow local water restrictions or water use rules 
• If permitted, water the lawn only once a week – saves 37,600 litres per month 
• Collect rainwater or reuse grey water for outdoor plant use
• Plant drought tolerant yards and gardens
• Clean outside with a broom instead of a hose
• Check all plumbing and hoses for leaks
• Use a water-saving pool filter

As of this publication, the Capital Regional District (CRD), which oversees Greater Victoria’s water distribution, has implemented ‘Stage 1’ water restrictions. Under Stage 1, residential lawn watering is permitted twice a week, as per the region’s watering schedule.