The provincial government is urging British Columbians to conserve water as forecasts point to elevated drought conditions across much of the province this summer.

“Protecting B.C.’s water resources is a shared responsibility, and the actions we take today will help communities, farmers and businesses manage increasing drought pressures,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

“We are working closely with First Nations, local governments, industry and the agricultural sector to support water conservation and long-term water security. By working together and reducing water use where we can, we can help protect fish and wildlife, support farmers who depend on reliable water supplies and strengthen the resilience of our communities.”

The reminder comes as many communities, including several on Vancouver Island, already have water restrictions in place to reduce demand and protect local supplies.

The province says while recent rainfall has improved stream flows in some areas, warm and dry weather is expected to continue.

Officials are closely monitoring parts of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the southern Interior and the southern coast, where some rivers and streams are at record-low levels and drought conditions continue.

Tsolum River is among those facing increasing pressure, raising concerns for fish populations and aquatic ecosystems.

The province is encouraging residents, businesses and large water users to voluntarily reduce water consumption wherever possible.

Officials say if conservation efforts are not enough to protect vulnerable watersheds, temporary protection orders could be introduced as a last resort.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.