BC Hydro will be conducting maintenance and repair work at the Puntledge River generating station. Credit: Comox Valley Regional District
The Comox Valley Water System will be moving to Stage 3 water restrictions on Sept.10 at 8 a.m. as BC Hydro conducts maintenance and repairs at the Puntledge River generating stations.
Fish screens will also be cleaned to help redirect salmon back to the river. The Stage 3 water restrictions was supposed to end on Sept. 20 but will now end on Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m.
“During Stage 3 the Comox Valley water system will be supplying water to residents from the standby Puntledge pump station,” Comox Valley Regional District General Manager of Engineering Services Marc Rutten said in a statement.
“The standby station is unable to meet peak demand as well as maintain fire flows resulting in this required heightened restriction.”
The areas that fall under the restrictions include the Town of Comox, the City of Courtenay, the Sandwick, Arden, Comox Valley, England Road, Marsden/Camco and Greaves Crescent Water Local Service Areas.
Residents are prohibited to water their lawns or pressure wash driveways and boulevards, fill a swimming pool, hot tub or garden pond or wash a vehicle or boat (other than in a commercial car wash or car dealership).
Residents are allowed to:
- Water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day between the hours of 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.
- Water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle during installation and at any time during the following 24 hours after installation is completed.
- Use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems to water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day between the hours of 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Water all-weather playing fields at any time, but only if failure to do so will result in a permanent loss of plant material.
- Use water to wash sidewalks, driveways, 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.
Alexa Huffman
