All Water Conservation Regulations Lifted on the Sunshine Coast

After periods of significant rainfall over the past two months, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has lifted Stage 1 water conservation regulations on the Chapman Water System.

SCRD staff continue to monitor creek flows and snowpack in the Chapman Watershed. The extended drought period, followed by freezing temperatures at Chapman Lake, added a level of uncertainty and unpredictability for water supply in the fall and winter months. Staff visited Chapman Lake last week, and along with creek flow data, have determined that there is sufficient water supply to lift all water conservation regulations at this time.

The SCRD’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has also been stepped down. In the coming weeks, staff will complete tasks from the EOC and are integrating learnings from the past year into our emergency response plans.

Some pictures taken last week at Chapman Lake are below.

Water Projects

Three major projects will move forward this year to assist with water supply for the Chapman Water System. These include:

Church Road Well Field

Pump tests are continuing at the Church Road Well Field as staff look to bring the well online. There have been significant delays due to unforeseen supply chain issues. This project will add up to five million litres of water per day to the Chapman Water System.

Water Meter Installation in Sechelt

SCRD staff anticipate that a contractor will be in place by late March to install about 4,800 water meters in Sechelt. This project is a high priority and will help increase water awareness and efficiency amongst all SCRD water users. Further information will be shared when available.

Langdale Well Field

Contractors will be on-site near the Langdale Ferry Terminal throughout February. The work will include pump tests to better understand the aquifer and to estimate the potential well capacity.  The results from the wells have been favourable, and the SCRD will soon begin the water licence application process.

“I want to once again thank our community for conserving water these past few months, your contributions helped secure water supply on the Chapman Water System,” says SCRD Board Chair Leonard Lee. “Our staff are hard at work on projects to further diversify our water supply as we prepare for any further impacts of climate change and likely associated drought conditions on the Sunshine Coast this summer.”

Stay up to date on water projects at letstalk.scrd.ca/water