Abbotsford council has aproved changes to the city’s water restrictions starting this year, including allowing residents only one day of lawn watering instead of two during the first stage.
Amendmends to the city’s waterworks regulations bylaw were approved at the council meeting on Tuesday (April 9), with a staff report stating the changes “will better position the regional water supply and respond to the more challenging drought conditions anticipated as an impact of climate change.”
Water restrictions have historically come into play between May 1 and Sept. 30, with escalated phases being determined by water levels in Dickson Lake and Maclure Reservoir.
The staff report stated that, previously, the depletion of Dickson Lake between set water levels or the inability of Maclure to replenish over more than three nights in a row triggered water-restriction measures.
“With more frequent droughts and operational constraints, these triggers are no longer sufficient to ensure that the regional water supply can act proactively to prevent severe supply deficits and respond effectively to changing conditions,” the report states.
It says the extreme heat dome in 2021, an extended drought in fall 2022, and a record drought in 2023 have contributed to ongoing concerns.
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The changes approved include that staged water restrictions be put in place outside the time frame of May 1 to Sept. 30 when “relevant circumstances” warrant it.
These conditions include the levels of Dickson Lake, Cannell Lake and the Abbotsford-Sumas aquifer; Norrish Creek flows; the temperature forecast and extreme-heat warnings; and provincial drought levels.
Stage 1 has now been changed to allow only one day of lawn watering rather than two, and stage 2 is a full watering ban.
Times for residential lawn watering will be on the weekend and separated into automatic watering from 5 to 7 a.m. and manual from 6 to 9 a.m.
The watering of trees, shrubs and flowers (excluding edible plants) will be reduced from all day to 5 to 9 a.m. during stages 1 and 2 and prohibited in stage 3.
Hand watering with a hose with an automatic shutoff, drip/micro spray irrigation and water container will be allowed anytime.
In stage 3, all new plantings of trees, shrubs and flowers will be prohibited.
Washing vehicles and boats will also be banned in stage 3, except to clean windows, lights, mirrors, licence plates and boat engines.
Another change is to the enforcement process, which is currently three steps consisting of an educational door-hanger, a warning notice and then a fine.
The new process will be only two steps – a warning notice and then a fine.
Changes to the water restrictions also go before Mission council for consideration as they fall under the Abbotsford Mission Water and Sewer Commission’s water shortage response plan.
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