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Water restrictions

Water Restrictions by Area

While the CVRD and member municipalities have co-ordinated water use restrictions across the region, some Improvement Districts and private water systems may choose to apply different restrictions. In some instances, the characteristics of certain water sources may require certain water systems or jurisdictions to move to a higher stage of water use restrictions earlier than neighbouring communities.

Use the map or tables below to see which water system serves your property and what your current water use restrictions are.

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Restriction Stages
No restrictions
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Unserviced (voluntary restrictions)
Unknown (contact system operator)

Water Restriction Stages & Dates

Watering restrictions were updated in 2022. The new regulations apply to the Municipality of North Cowichan, City of Duncan, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Cowichan Tribes, Town of Lake Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith, Diamond Improvement District, Stz’uminus First Nation, Mill Bay Water District, and Cowichan Bay Waterworks.

Sprinkling and hand-watering is NOT permitted between 9:00am and 7:00pm. See the table below for water days and other restrictions.

Please check the local newspaper or each water provider’s website during the summer months to see if Stage 2, Stage 3 or Stage 4 restrictions are in effect.

Stage 1
Sprinkling 2 hours maximum, 2 days per week.
Stage 2
Sprinkling 2 hours maximum, 1 day per week.
Stage 3
No Sprinkling. Hand-watering / Micro or drip irrigation subject to daily maximum for food or ornamental gardens.
Stage 4
All use of water for any purpose other than drinking, food preparation and personal hygiene is subject to stage 4 restrictions. No sprinkling. Hand-watering, micro or drip irrigation subject to daily maximum for food or ornamental gardens.
Watering Regulation Summary Table
Local governments use 4 levels of watering restrictions as shown below. Note that private utilities are not managed by our system – please call your provider and inquire about their conservation program and possible water restrictions.
USAGE AREA STAGE 1

May 1 to Oct. 31

STAGE 2

Provincial Drought
Level 3 OR As Required1

STAGE 3

Provincial Drought
Level 4 OR As Required1

STAGE 4

As Required1

USAGE AREA STAGE 1

May 1 to Oct. 31

STAGE 2

Provincial Drought
Level 3 OR As Required1

STAGE 3

Provincial Drought
Level 4 OR As Required1

STAGE 4

As Required1

Select a Water Usage Type
Conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers
Lawns, Vegetable Gardens, Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Flower Gardens 2 hours/day

Even Addresses:
Wednesday & Saturday
Odd Addresses:
Thursday & Sunday

2 hours/day

Even Addresses:
Wednesday
Odd Addresses:
Sunday

X Not permitted X Not permitted
New Lawns2 2 hours/day

Any Day. Require Garden Irrigation Permit

1 hour/day

Any Day. Require Garden Irrigation Permit. (Permits must be Obtained Prior to Stage 2)

1 hour/day

Any Day. Require
Garden Irrigation Permit. (Permits must be Obtained Prior to Stage 2)

X Not permitted
Hand Watering, Micro / Drip Irrigation3
Vegetable Gardens, Fruit Trees 4 hours /day 4 hours /day 2 hours/day 2 hours/day
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Flower Gardens 2 hours /day 2 hours /day 1 hour/day 1 hour/day
Lawns 2 hours /day 1 hour/day X Not permitted X Not permitted
New Lawns2 2 hours /day 2 hours/day 1 hour/day

Require Garden Irrigation Permit. (Permits must be Obtained Prior to Stage 2)

X Not permitted
Other Outdoor Water Use
Filling Pools and Hot Tubs No restrictions No restrictions X Not permitted4 X Not permitted4
Washing Vehicles or Boats No restrictions No restrictions X Not permitted4 X Not permitted4
Washing Driveways, Houses and Sidewalks No restrictions Permitted Under Certain Circumstances5 Permitted Under Certain Circumstances5 X Not permitted4
Sport Fields6 Reduced Watering Reduced Watering, Conservation Measures Reduced or Eliminated Watering Reduced or Eliminated Watering
Private Wells, Agriculture7 Regulated by Provincial Government (Not Supplied from Community Potable Water Systems)
Notes
  1. Stage 2 and 3 restrictions will be imposed in conjunction with the corresponding Provincial Drought Code. Jurisdictions may move to a given Stage ahead of the corresponding Provincial Drought Code based on state of the water system.
  2. Irrigation of new lawns must follow the restrictions for established lawns. If additional watering is required, a permit must be obtained at which point water restrictions for New Lawns must be followed.
  3. Micro/drip irrigation delivers water to the root zone of the plants and uses less than 90 L/hr (20 imperial gallons per hour) at less than 25 psi. Weeper hoses are considered micro/drip irrigation, and are permitted; soaker hoses are not permitted. A weeper hose emits water through very small pores in the rubber; there is no water spray stream emitted from the hose, resulting in less evaporation than a soaker hose. A soaker hose has holes that are large enough to emit water as a spray stream, resulting in more evaporation than a micro/drip irrigation system or a weeper hose.
  4. Pools filled prior to Stage 3 water use restrictions being implemented may be topped up to account for evaporation losses in order to avoid damage to pumps, etc. Municipal recreation facilities exempt.
  1. For residential properties, washing driveways, houses or sidewalks is only permitted during Stages 2 and 3 in preparation for applying paints, preservatives or for pouring concrete. Residential washing (i.e. not at a car wash facility which reuses water) of vehicles and boats is only permitted in Stage 3 in preparation of applying paints or preservatives. Commercial enterprises which require water use to facilitate normal business activities are exempt from some Stage 2 and 3 water restrictions. These include nurseries, turf farms or tree farms, car wash / detailers, power washing companies, window washing companies, etc.
  2. School and Municipal playing fields are often sand-based and require regular watering. For that reason they are exempt from sprinkling regulations. Regardless, efforts are made to reduce water use and the irrigation timings are adjusted to reduce evaporation and avoid times of higher water consumption.
  3. If necessary the Provincial Government can require the curtailment of water use for private wells and for agricultural purposes.
Garden Irrigation Permits
Issued for a limited time period, Garden Irrigation Permits will permit owners or residents to water newly planted lawns or large scale landscaping daily following the current water use restrictions table. No lawn watering is permitted under Stage 4.

Applications may be obtained by clicking on the following link: Garden Irrigation Permit Application.

Please forward the completed application by email to the Utilities Division at utilities@cvrd.bc.ca, or drop off in person at the CVRD office located at 175 Ingram Street. Once your application has been reviewed, we will contact you for payment of the $25 permit fee and issuance of the permit.

Garden Irrigation Permits will only be issued if more than 50% of the lawn is being planted. Garden Irrigation Permits will not be issued during Stage 2, 3 and 4 Water Use Restrictions. This is to encourage residents to plant new lawns in the spring when water is more plentiful.

CVRD Water Systems

The CVRD operates 20 water systems throughout the region. For specific information about any particular water system, please contact CVRD Utility Services at 250.746.2530 or Email

Select a CVRD water system
System Location Water Restrictions
Arbutus Mountain Estates Area B – Shawnigan Lake No restrictions
Arbutus Ridge Area C – Cobble Hill No restrictions
Bald Mountain Area I – Youbou / Meade Creek No restrictions
Burnum Water System Area B – Shawnigan Lake No restrictions
Carlton Water System Area B – Shawnigan Lake No restrictions
Cherry Point Estates Area D – Cowichan Bay No restrictions
Dogwood Ridge Area E – Cowichan Station / Sahtlam / Glenora No restrictions
Douglas Hill Areas C – Cobble Hill & D – Cowichan Bay No restrictions
Fern Ridge Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat No restrictions
Honeymoon Bay Area F – Cowichan Lake South / Skutz Falls No restrictions
Kerry Village Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat No restrictions
Lambourn Estates Area D – Cowichan Bay No restrictions
Malahat Forest Estates Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat No restrictions
Mesachie Lake Area F – Cowichan Lake South / Skutz Falls No restrictions
Saltair Area G – Saltair / Gulf Islands No restrictions
Satellite Park Area C – Cobble Hill No restrictions
Shawnigan Lake North Area B – Shawnigan Lake No restrictions
Shell Beach Area H – North Oyster / Diamond No restrictions
Shellwood Area H – North Oyster / Diamond No restrictions
Woodley Range Area H – North Oyster / Diamond Permanent Stage 3
Youbou Area I – Youbou / Meade Creek No restrictions
Municipal Water Systems

Each municipality within the CVRD operates their own water system(s). For specific information about any particular water system, please contact the municipality directly.

Select a municipal water system
System Location Water Restrictions
Chemainus Water System Chemainus (North Cowichan) No restrictions
Crofton Water System Crofton (North Cowichan) No restrictions
Duncan Water System City of Duncan; Cowichan Tribes; Eagle Heights (CVRD Area E) No restrictions
Ladysmith Water System Town of Ladysmith; Stz’uminus First Nations No restrictions
Lake Cowichan Water System Town of Lake Cowichan No restrictions
South End Water System South End, Maple Bay (North Cowichan) No restrictions
Improvement Districts

There are 10 water systems operated by Improvement Districts in the Cowichan Region. For specific information about any particular water system, please contact the improvement district directly. Since these systems are not operated by the CVRD, the number of connections shown is approximate and represents the number of lots within the water service area. The actual number of properties served by the water system may be different than what is shown.

Select an improvement district
System Location Water Restrictions
Braithwaite Estates Improvement District Area C – Cobble Hill Contact Improvement District
Cobble Hill Improvement District Area C – Cobble Hill Contact Improvement District
Cowichan Bay Waterworks District Area D – Cowichan Bay No restrictions
Diamond Improvement District Area H – North Oyster / Diamond No restrictions
Meredith Road Improvement District Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat Contact Improvement District
Mill Bay Waterworks Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat Contact Improvement District
Oceanview Improvement District Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat Contact Improvement District
Sunset Improvement District Area I – Youbou / Meade Creek Contact Improvement District
Sylvania Improvement District Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat Contact Improvement District
Wace Creek Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat Contact Improvement District
Private Water Systems

There are 9 privately-operated water systems within the Cowichan Region. For specific information about any particular water system, please contact the water system operator directly. Since these systems are not operated by the CVRD, the number of connections shown is approximate and represents the number of lots within the water service area. The actual number of properties served by the water system may be different than what is shown.

Select a private water system
System Location
Garnett Creek Water Users Area C – Cobble Hill
Kilmalu Developments Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat
Knute Johnson Area A – Mill Bay / Malahat
Shawnigan Village Waterworks Area B – Shawnigan Lake
Millar’s Water Supply Area C – Cobble Hill
Norseman Development Ltd. Area F – Cowichan Lake South / Skutz Falls
Smith Waterworks Area I – Youbou / Meade Creek
Vanland Developments Area C – Cobble Hill