Vancouver Island Under Extreme Drought Conditions

The dry, crackling heat is doing more than just contributing to the excess of wildfires in British Columbia, as the entirety of Vancouver Island is under an extreme drought rating, causing some communities to put comprehensive watering bans into effect.

Photo Credit: BC River Forecast Centre.

According to the BC River Forecast Centre, river levels on Vancouver Island have reached a historic low, thanks to the early onset of warm conditions in March that have continued into the summer season.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and the City of Parksville have implemented a comprehensive watering ban, as the region hits a level four drought rating.

Photo Credit: RDN website.

Under the water ban, all outdoor sprinkling for households and businesses is prohibited, including newly seeded and sodded lawns. Moreover, residents are restricted from washing their vehicles, RVs, and boats, and individuals are also prohibited from filling their swimming pools, hot tubs, and garden ponds.

"I have never seen it this dry this soon in the 72 years I've been living here," said RDN Chair Joe Stanhope. "We need to reduce water consumption as much as possible right now to meet basic needs in our communities. I'm asking all residents in RDN water service areas to review the Comprehensive Watering Ban, and make any necessary changes immediately."

While this ban only affects the RDN and Parksville, all residents in the surrounding regions are encouraged to reduce outdoor water use, especially considering that high temperatures and low precipitation is expected to continue well into the fall.

Much of the southern half of British Columbia is under a dry drought level rating. Moving into the South Coast and Lower Fraser region, the drought level is considered to be very dry, and here in the Okanagan, the drought level rating is considered dry. Although the Okanagan is not under an extreme drought rating, and thus a strict water conservation order, there is still a chance that we could face a drought this summer. In light of the dry summer, minor water restrictions for the Central Okanagan were implemented back in June.