Stage 4 Water Restrictions in Effect for Sunshine Coast: Ban on all outside Use of Drinking Water
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).
Lack of rainfall is the heart of the Sunshine Coasts' water crisis, leaving current reservoirs at levels that are lower than the pipes that draw water from them.
A helicopter was used late last week to install temporary "siphons" deeper into the Edwards Lake reservoir.
A temporary fix at best.
As of today, the Edwards siphons are adding water to Chapman Lake. Chapman lake levels are also so low siphons are needed to supply the water system.
Lake levels continue to drop despite an SCRD community goal of 10 million litres per day being met. That's about 400 liters per day per household.
With no rain in the forecast, the goal has been lowered to 9.5 million litres per day in an attempt to make the remaining reserves last into November.
Options open to the SCRD if the dry weather persists,
- trucking water from other systems on the Coast
- installing pumps at Chapman Lake to draw more water than is currently possible with siphons
Residential high water users are being engaged, and staff is patrolling neighbourhoods and following up on water use complaints.
The Sunshine Coast is no stranger to water restrictions, but restrictions continuing into October rarely if ever happen.
The Sunshine Coast region has seen steady growth and according to some putting an unsustainable strain on current resources as this article in a local publication reports.
A headline from the newspapers August 19 2021 edition reads,
Environment Canada's long range forecast:
Updated extended forecasts from Tuesday night 11 October to Sunday 16
October for Coastal British Columbia issued by Environment Canada at
6:20 a.m. PDT Monday 10 October 2022
.
Sunshine Coast:
Tuesday night..Clear. Low 6.
Wednesday..Sunny. High 19.
Wednesday night..Clear. Low 8.
Thursday..Sunny. High 20.
Thursday night..Clear. Low 9.
Friday..Sunny. High 21.
Friday night..Cloudy periods. Low 10.
Saturday..A mix of sun and cloud. High 20.
Saturday night..Cloudy periods. Low 10.
Sunday..A mix of sun and cloud. High 19.
Normals for the period..Low 8. High 14.
