BC Hydro is set to further reduce the flow rate in the Puntledge River next week, due to persistent dry weather, lower than normal inflows and declining storage in the Comox Lake Reservoir.

That will mean Stage 3 water restrictions for those in the Comox Valley Regional District beginning Tuesday, June 23.

The restrictions will apply to any residence in the Town of Comox, City of Courtenay, K’omoks First Nation, and the Comox Valley Water Local Service Area.

“This is the earliest our community has been required to move to Stage 3 water restrictions,” says General Manager of Engineering Services Kris La Rose.

“As we head into the summer, it’s important that residents do their part to protect river health and ensure there is enough water available for environmental, domestic and fire protection needs.”

The CVRD water license requires the community to move to Stage 3 water restrictions when BC Hydro reduces flow in the Puntledge River to below 11.3 cubic metres per second.

It’s currently at about 12.0 cubic meters per second (m3/s) and will go down to about  9.0 m3/s on Tuesday and may further reduce in mid-July.

The District would be required to move to Stage 4 water restrictions if BC Hydro takes the unprecedented step of reducing flow in the Puntledge to below 5.7 cubic metres per second.

During Stage 3 water restrictions, no lawn watering is permitted at any time. Residents are also prohibited from pressure washing driveways and boulevards; filling a swimming pool, hot tub or garden pond; or washing 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 at any time only if watering is done with a hand-held container, a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation/drip-irrigation systems.

The CVRD says it and municipal bylaw enforcement will be on patrol, issuing tickets for those not following water conservation bylaw requirements.

You can find more info at Comox Valley Regional District.

BC Hydro Public Affairs Coordinator Karla Louwers said cumulative June inflows were tracking at 21-percent of normal, the lowest in 64 years of record.

She notes this year is similar to summer of 2015 with record low snowpack and low summer inflows.