Thursday July 13, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
Water is crucial for our daily life, agriculture and communities. With many areas of BC experiencing drought conditions, it’s important that we all do our part to conserve water, said Premier David Eby in social media today.
“This includes following your local restrictions, taking shorter showers, holding back on watering lawns, and fixing any leaking taps or toilets. Together, we can make sure BC’s communities can withstand this summer’s droughts,” Eby said.
His Twitter posts included a link to the BC Drought Information webpage.
Wildfire season:
This advisory and pitch for attention to water conservation comes within one of the most critical wildfire seasons in BC. In 2017, 2018 and 2021 there were also extreme wildfire challenges in BC. As the temperature of the planet keeps increasing — and drought becoming more frequent — the risk of wildfire increases.
Lightning can spark wildfires. Wildfires causes by human interaction with the environment are generally avoidable.
Province-wide and local:
The messaging earlier this week from the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness was a broad appeal for water conservation across the province.
Residents of the Greater Victoria area (Capital Regional District / CRD) have been asked to adhere to Stage 1 water use restrictions every summer for years. Going to Stage 2 or 3 has not been necessary since the Sooke Reservoir was raised in 2003.
The CRD produces treated drinking water to one of the highest standards in North America; saving that for critical use (avoiding use on lawns etc) makes sense during a drought.
===== RELATED ARTICLES by ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
- CRD not increasing summer water restrictions past Stage 1 (July 11, 2023). Indoor and outdoor ways to conserve water in the Greater Victoria area.
- Being responsible: call-in about wildfires (July 5, 2023). This article includes info about drought and weather conditions.
- Collecting rainwater helps with CRD water supply (July 4, 2023). Help save treated municipal water by collecting your own rainwater.
- Local government infrastructure upgrades: drinking water & wastewater (June 27, 2023)
- Year-end snow boosted CRD water supply after dry fall (January 18, 2023)