Water restrictions mean restricting your use of water.
There are many among us who still think rules don’t apply to them and they can do whatever they want. Well, times have changed for those who haven’t noticed.
The planet no longer has an overabundance of water, if it ever did, but climate change circumstances are definitely making the situation more dire.
Locally, we were somewhat blessed to have a wetter than usual spring that actually lasted into the early stages of summer in July. But now we’re back into drought conditions and water is being used up rapidly and to a greater extent because some people are not changing their practices.
Bottom line, this is not the time to be washing your pretty car, power washing a couple of specks of dirt and leaves off the driveway or other such unnecessary uses of water. You can do those things when restrictions are lifted.
For now, everyone has to bite the bullet and do their part. All you obsessive compulsive residents who absolutely must use water for extensive cleaning for something to do are going to need to curb those activities for a while.
Stage 2 water restrictions currently in effect for North Cowichan and the regional district still allow sprinkling two days a week during certain hours with limitations based on house numbers and everyone should take time to learn what those conditions are. You can also still hand water plants and shrubs using a bucket or a garden-hose nozzle during a specified two-hour time period in the morning and evening.
So it’s not the end of the world. You’re not being told to abandon water use all together; just to be wise about conserving for the betterment of everyone.
The last several years have told us we will continue to experience periods of drought. This year, it just happened to be later but the results are the same.
Water is going to be the most precious resource going forward and remains the most difficult part of planning to deal with the housing crisis by approving more development in our growing population.
The demand for water is still far outstripping the supply and that can’t continue to happen.