Drinking water is a limited resource. Water regulations are designed to promote water conservation and ensure water supply and treatment systems can meet the large seasonal increase in outdoor water use during the summer.

Limits to water systems include the rate at which water can flow through a treatment plant, the rate pumps can run to recharge to neighbourhood reservoirs and maintain water pressure in the system, and the amount of water the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is licensed to draw from creeks, lakes, and aquifers.

During times of low rainfall (drought), surface water systems that rely on lakes and creeks are not refilled and community water supplies are limited to the stored water remaining. Regulating outdoor water use prioritizes drinking water supply for essential household activities and services.

Water conservation stages are not scheduled in advance. Stages can change during times of low rainfall and high water use. Snowpack conditions, weather forecasts, current supply levels, community water use, and seasonal trends are all used to determine when a change in stage is needed. Information on which stage is in effect can be found on the SCRD website, local newspaper, local radio, social media channels, and road signs.

Plan to be away from your property? Please continue to follow water conservation regulations by either setting your automatic sprinkler to follow the water conservation regulation schedule or asking for the support of a friend or landscaper for outdoor watering.

Watering schedules promote efficiency and are based on community and water system needs which include:

• Watering during the morning and evening reduces the amount of evaporation that occurs from lawns, sprinklers, and soil.
• Current times and days of the week included community feedback obtained through public engagement.
• Following watering schedules allows the water treatment and distribution systems to recharge neighbourhood reservoirs to be ready for morning and evening water demand.

If you are unavailable at these times, please consider alternatives such as rainwater collection or a drip irrigation system on a timer. Rebates are available for rainwater harvesting systems.

Ensure your automated irrigation system is only watering within the allowed times for your address. Rain sensors are required on all irrigation systems to prevent watering in the rain. Drip irrigation systems are water conserving technologies.

The SCRD defines drip irrigation as a system that operates at a pressure less than 138 kPa (20 psi) and delivers water directly to the plant root zone. Drip irrigation has individual emission points where each emitter uses less than 7.6 litres per hour. A pressure regulator is needed to reduce the water pressure to 20 psi.

Check out this video to find out how much water is used by drip irrigation systems.

Commercial food producing farms, paying a metered rate for water, are exempt from regulations in water conservation Stages 1, 2 and 3.

A property that is classified as farm land for taxation purposes under the British Columbia Assessment Authority Act, and that is paying a metered rate for water, is exempt from Stage 4 water conservation regulations, for a two-week period, commencing from the first date when Stage 4 comes into effect. All other growers must adhere to the water conservation regulations in place.

During Stage 2 water conservation regulations and onward – lawn watering is NOT permitted. Try directing your sprinkler heads to the flowers only, turning off some zones of your system, or water by hand.

Permits are not available for pressure washing, this includes businesses. Plan to pressure wash in the spring or fall.

Permits for watering new lawns are not available. New lawns should be established early in the spring, prior to possible summer droughts, or in the fall.

Water conservation regulations apply only to the use of SCRD drinking water, not to the use of private wells, rainwater or grey water. The use of well water is regulated by the Province of BC, further details are available here.

The SCRD does not regulate the use of surface water in the region. A water licence from the Province is required for surface water use. For details on provincial regulations click  here.

A house with a large garden may use an average of 400 litres per day in the winter, but that can increase to thousands of litres of water per day in May, June, July and August when sprinklers and soaker hoses are used for watering.

Are you curious about your household water use? Join the growing community of Sunshine Coast households who receive their personal Monthly Water Use by email.

The SCRD works to improve water efficiency year-round and conserve water during the summer, including water main repairs and replacements, optimizing flushing in the water treatment plants and hydrants, adjusting and limiting sports field irrigation, and consideration of pool and ice rink fill schedules.

What guides water use regulations?

Regulations are put in place from May 1 to September 30 as per Section 19 of the Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 422.

Water conservation regulations are guided by the region’s Drought Response Plan.