The Comox Valley Regional District announced that stage three water restrictions will come into effect from Thursday, June 12, at 8 a.m. until Tuesday, June 17 at 4:30 p.m. for residents connected to the Comox Valley water system, to allow for BC Hydro’s hydroelectric facility maintenance and fish-screen cleaning.
The fish screens positioned in the BC Hydro penstock at the Puntledge River diversion dam require periodic maintenance to keep them clean in efficiently screening chinook and coho salmon that may enter the intake back into the Puntledge River. While BC Hydro is conducting the fish screen cleaning and general facility maintenance, the CVRD will be supplying water to consumers via the Puntledge pump station.
To maintain enough water in the system during this time for household and fire-fighting needs residents are asked to use water only when completely necessary.
During stage three the following 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
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. Residents living near the pump station can expect some noise from the engines while water is being pumped from the river.
To keep up-to-date with the latest water restrictions, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions.