Help protect our drinking water: Stagger automatic watering times
Reprogramming your irrigation system to start earlier and at a random time, or switching to an evening watering time, can help reduce the pressure on the CRD’s drinking water system. Photo courtesy CRD
You know what it’s like to be in the shower when your teenager flushes the toilet downstairs, or your partner starts washing the dishes in the kitchen – water pressure can suddenly drop.
It’s the same for the Capital Regional District’s drinking water system.
In recent summers, the system has experienced challenges due to high, sudden demand from region-wide irrigation system programs that all start at the same time – particularly at 4, 5 and 6 a.m. on residential lawn watering days.
Water demand can double with these instantaneous increases that fall on the hour water, impacting the system’s ability to maintain adequate flow, pressure and high water quality standards.
To encourage more water to flow between 12:01 a.m. and 4 a.m., amendments to the Regional Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 – in effect from May 1 to Sept. 30 each year – stipulate that residential, commercial or institutional properties with timed/automatic irrigation systems can water lawns according to the following schedule:
- Odd addresses – Thursday and Sunday from 12:01 to 10 a.m. and 7 t0 10 p.m.
- Even addresses – Wednesday and Saturday from 12:01 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.
- Public Authorities can water public, institutional or community playing fields any day except Wednesday from 1 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m
How can you help?
Start by avoiding watering at 4 a.m., 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. – reprogram your irrigation system to start earlier and at a random time, not at the top of the hour, or switch to the evening watering time. If you’re having trouble changing your system, email waterwise@crd.bc.ca and they can change it for you.
Remember that trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens can be watered any day of the week, within scheduled times. Water in short bursts to let water seep into the soil, promoting strong roots, and garden with native plants – once established, they require little to no watering and support biodiversity.
If possible, water these areas on non-lawn watering days to reduce the amount of water needed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Go golden! Let your lawn go golden in the summer and it will green up again with the fall rains. If you do opt for a green lawn, remember that healthy lawns only need one inch of water per week – including rain.
Inside, refrain from using large amounts of water before 10 a.m., strive for five-minute showers and delay starting your dishwasher or washing machine until mid-day or evening.
Find everything you need to know to help protect our drinking water at crd.bc.ca/water