Water Restrictions
This page was last reviewed on May 27, 2024.
Water use increases significantly in the summer months, much of it due to landscape watering. The Water Conservation Bylaw is intended to manage this and other outdoor uses. Stage 1 comes into effect automatically and Stages 2 and 3 are implemented by Village Council depending on the severity of the water shortage.
More information and definitions can be found in the Water Conservation Bylaw, No. 807.
Lawn Watering Permit
To apply for a permit to care for a freshly seeded or sodded lawn during Stage 1 water restrictions please complete an application and either deliver to the Village office located at 2673 Dunsmuir Avenue or email to info@nullcumberland.ca.
Stage 1 Water Restrictions
Stage 1 is in effect from May 1 to September 30 unless otherwise determined.
Lawn watering with a sprinkler is allowed two days per week:
Address | Lawn Watering Permitted |
Even Numbered | Wednesday and Saturday 4am – 10am and 7pm – 10pm |
Odd Numbered | Thursday and Sunday 4am – 10am and 7pm – 10pm |
During Stage 1, you may also
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables with a sprinkler on any day between 4 am and 10 am and between 7 pm to 10 pm.
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle on any day at any time.
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems on any day at any time.
- water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by any method during installation and for the following 24 hours.
- under the authority of a permit, water new sod on installation and during the first 21 days after installation, and water newly seeded lawns until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less, but only during the prescribed Stage 1 lawn watering hours.
- wash a vehicle with water using a hand held container or hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle and at car dealerships or commercial car washes, on any day at any time.
- water all weather playing fields at any time, if failure to do so will result in a permanent loss of plant material.
Exceptions to Stage 1 Restrictions:
- Owners or occupiers of property who, by reason of physical or mental incapacity, are unable to water their property within the restricted days and times, may water their property on any two days of the week for a maximum of 9 hours per day.
- Nurseries, farms, turf farms, and tree farms are exempted from the restrictions.
- The Village may water lawns and boulevards on any day but no more than two days per week.
Stage 2 Water Restrictions
To find out if Stage 2 restrictions are in effect, check this web page and local newspapers for notices, or call 250-336-2291.
Lawn watering with a sprinkler is allowed one day per week:
Address | Lawn Watering Permitted |
Even Numbered | Wednesday 4am – 10am and 7pm – 10pm |
Odd Numbered | Thursday 4am – 10am and 7pm – 10pm |
During Stage 2, you may also
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables with a sprinkler on any day between 4 am to 10 am and from 7 pm to 10 pm.
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables with a hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle on any day at any time.
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable using micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems on any day at any time.
- water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by any method during installation and for the following 24 hours.
- wash a vehicle with water using a hand held container or hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle and at car dealerships and commercial car washes, on any day at any time.
- water all weather playing fields at any time, if failure to do so will result in a permanent loss of plant material.
During Stage 2, you may not
- wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows or exterior building surfaces, except as necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative and stucco, preparing a surface prior to paving or repointing bricks, or if required by law to comply with health or safety regulations.
Exceptions to Stage 2 Restrictions:
- Owners or occupiers of property who, by reason of physical or mental incapacity, are unable to water their property within the restricted days and times, may water their property on one day per week for a maximum of 9 hours per day.
- Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempted from the restrictions.
- The Village may water lawns and boulevards on any day but no more than one day per week.
Stage 3 Water Restrictions
Lawn watering is not allowed.
To find out if Stage 3 restrictions are in effect, check this web page and local newspapers for notices, or call 250-336-2291.
During Stage 3, you may not
- water a lawn or boulevard.
- fill a swimming pool, hot tub or garden pond.
- fill or operate a non re-circulating fountain.
- wash a vehicle or a boat with water.
During Stage 3, you may
- water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables on any day between the hours of 4 am to 10 am and 7 pm to 10 pm if watering is done by hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.
- use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems to water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables on any day between the hours of 4 am to 10 am and 7 pm to 10 pm.
- water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables between the hours of 4 am to 10 am and 7 pm to 10 pm only by hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle during installation and the following 24 hours after installation is completed.
- use water to wash sidewalks, driveways or parking lots, exterior windows or exterior building surfaces, but only if necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative and stucco, preparing a surface prior to paving or repointing bricks, or if required by law to comply with health or safety regulations.
- water all weather playing fields at any time, if failure to do so will result in a permanent loss of plant material.
Exceptions to Stage 3 Restrictions:
- nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempted from the restrictions.
- wading pools may be filled with water.
- vehicles and boats may be washed with water only at car dealerships and commercial car washes using less than 57 litres of water per vehicle wash or 50% re-circulated water as long as the total amount of water, excluding re-circulated water does not exceed 57 litres per vehicle wash.
This information is provided for convenience only. Please refer to the Water Conservation Bylaw No. 807.
Bylaw Enforcement
A person that contravenes Water Conservation Bylaw No. 807 when restrictions are in effect is subject to the following penalties:
Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 |
$100 | $250 | $500 |
More Information
Farm means a parcel of land classified as farmland for assessment and taxation purposes.
Micro-irrigation or Drip-irrigation System means a system using irrigation components which consume less than 20.0IMPgal/hour and operate at less than 25psi to deliver water to the root zone of the plant material being irrigated, and includes spray emitter systems (Micro-Sprays), point source emitters, and linear tape systems as defined in the BC Trickle Manual prepared and published by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Resource Management Branch (issue 1999), but does not include weeper or soaker hoses.
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