The Comox Valley Regional District needs to extend the stage three water restrictions until further notice — possibly to Oct. 3.
The reason, says the CVRD, is to allow BC Hydro crews to finish maintenance work on the Puntledge River generating station. While the maintenance is underway, the CVRD has to supply water to consumers via standby pumping stations. To maintain enough water in the system for household and firefighting needs, residents are asked to use water only when completely necessary.
BC Hydro crews have found three very small cracks within the pipeline valve into the generation station, and repairs are underway. The stage three water restrictions will be in place until the BC Hydro pipeline is returned to service. BC Hydro will update the CVRD when the unplanned repair work is completed.
Check the main page of the CVRD website at www.comoxvalleyrd.ca or CVRD’s Facebook and Twitter feeds for updated information.
During stage three, the following seasonal activities are prohibited:
• Watering lawns (with manual or automatic sprinklers) or pressure washing driveways or boulevards at any time • Filling or adding water to a hot tub or garden pond at any time
• Washing a vehicle or a boat at any time
During stage three the following activities are allowed:
• Watering trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day between 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. if watering is done by hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Other exemptions are outlined in the bylaw and can be located on the CVRD website, www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions.
This stage three water restriction applies to everyone living in the Town of Comox, the City of Courtenay and the Arden, Comox Valley, England Road, Marsden/Camco, and Greaves Crescent water local service areas. All of these areas are served by the Comox Valley water system.
Health regulations require that consumer and business users be aware that the water might be turbid (cloudy) if heavy rains occur. There may be slight discolouration of the water during and after this period.
The medical health officer recommends that if this occurs, the water be brought to a rolling boil for one minute prior to consuming. Consumers using water during this time should be aware that water quality could change rapidly. It is advisable to keep an ample supply of potable water on hand or in your refrigerator during the time indicated above. Taste and odour of the water may be affected by the addition of extra chlorine while pumping from the Puntledge River.
Residents living near the pump station can expect some noise from the engines while water is being pumped from the river.
— Comox Valley Regional District