Water Conservation - Bowen Island Municipality

Water Use Restrictions in Effect from May 1 – October 31

Water Use Restrictions are in effect for all municipal water systems from May 1 to October 31, under the Municipality’s Water Conservation Bylaw. Please see the Water Conservation Page for more information.

Stage 1: None at this time.

Stage 2: None at this time.

Stage 3: Cove Bay, Bluewater Park, Bowen Bay, Eagle Cliff, Hood Point, King Edward Bay & Tunstall Bay

Stage 4: None at this time.

All water systems are currently on Stage 3 Water Use Restrictions

Chart showing water use restrictions by activity across four drought stages, with Stage 3 highlighted. Rows list activities: lawn watering, flower and vegetable gardens, car and boat washing, surface and power washing, and filling pools, hot tubs, fountains or ponds. Columns show rules for Stage 1 through Stage 4. In Stage 3: lawn watering is prohibited; garden watering is restricted to hand watering, spring-loaded shut-off nozzles, or drip irrigation (no soaker hoses); car and boat washing is limited to windows, mirrors, and license plates only; surface and power washing is restricted to safety or painting preparation only; and filling pools or similar features is prohibited.

Bowen Island Municipality’s Water Use Restrictions are based on the Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Conservation and support the municipality’s Water Conservation Bylaw.

The stages define four levels of water restrictions for users of Municipal drinking water systems. Stage 1 goes into effect by default between May 1 and October 15 and remains in place unless amended to a higher stage based on water supply conditions.

These restrictions are intended to manage demand for drinking water during the summer months, and if necessary during times of emergencies. This is important because:

rainfall is lower and demand is higher in the summer
climate change is affecting rainfall frequency and intensity
storage capacity is limited
water shortages may result from unforeseen emergency situations such as earthquakes

The restrictions are enforceable under the Water Conservation Bylaw. We encourage all island water users to help protect our drinking water supply by complying with them. Residents who rely on private wells are also encouraged to follow the conservation stages, as doing so supports the long-term sustainability of local groundwater sources.

The Water Use Restrictions are posted and updated regularly on the Municipality’s Alerts and Advisories webpage. We may occasionally recommend increased stages of water conservation in specific water systems depending on the source and storage levels for that system.

Creative water conservation methods for all Bowen Island Municipal water systems

Bowen Island’s water comes from rainfall collected in the aquifers and water sheds. We do not have a unlimited amount of water. Please read the following water conservation methods for all Municipal Water Systems. By helping conserve water, we can all minimize the impact on our environment and make our water systems more sustainable.

Turn off the water when shaving, brushing teeth, and washing dishes. This can save 10 to 40 litres/day.
Check for leaky toilets and replace older bathroom faucet nozzles.
Install low flow toilets – they can save 6 to 14 litres per flush while low flow showerheads can save 8 litres/minute.
Wash produce in a pan half-filled with water instead of using a strainer. Use this water for household plants.
Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean the driveway and sidewalk. A hose uses 23 litres/minute.
Use a bucket of soapy water to wash your car and use the hose only for rinsing.
Wash your car using soap and water from a bucket. The hose uses 23 litres/minute, but using a bucket saves you at least 2 minutes’ worth of water (46 litres).
Water the garden during early morning or evening hours when temperatures are cooler to avoid evaporation.
Grow the grass at least 2 to 3 inches. Taller grass shades new growth and reduces evaporation.
An hour of sprinkling uses about 1300 litres of water.
Use a Rain Barrel to collect free water from your roof for your garden.

When you’re craving a cool glass of water, don’t run the faucet until the water gets cold. Try keeping a jug of water in the fridge. This way you can have a cold glass of water whenever you like!
Remove weeds in your lawn and garden. This reduces competition for water while making the rest of the yard look great!
Plant a water wise garden, which contains plants that need little water and can cope with long dry spells. Placing mulch in your garden is also a good way to conserve water. It reduces erosion and discourages weeds. Spread grass clippings or other mulch materials around the base of plants and shrubs.
Reduce your shower by 5 minutes. This can save up to 100 litres of water.

You can take steps to protect your water supply and to deal with a dry well. Below are some suggestions for private well-users to avoid unpleasant surprises and have peace of mind:

Check your water level, if you haven’t already
Consider speaking to a qualified local water technician about installing a well depth monitor to notify you when your well reaches a lower-than-normal level
Work with one of the local water companies or a group of neighbours to coordinate tanker truck deliveries or create communal pump and storage systems
Consider purchasing a storage tank that will work in coordination with the natural recharge capacity of your well and will help to protect you from sudden water outages
Remember that water quality and characteristics can be affected when the water table changes drastically, this may be a first indicator that water levels are low
Talk to neighbours, especially if you are on a shared well or a shared aquifer, to agree on water conservation strategies and share updates on the level of the well
Learn more tips about being “Wellsmart” at WellSmart or look in the Bowen Phone Book under “Water Systems”

Read some more suggestions for conserving water here.

Drought Conditions

Drought is a recurrent feature of climate involving a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time, resulting in a water shortage. For the latest information, see the Drought Information Portal.

Drought classifications are shown in the chart below. Read more about our current drought information.

Waterscape Bowen Island project

“Waterscape Bowen Island” project is an exploration of the story of water on Bowen Island.