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Ucluelet joins Tofino on water restrictions list

All sun and no rain makes Ucluelet a dry place.

Ucluelet has been hit with stage-one water restrictions, which took effect Aug. 21.

It marks the first time in over a decade that Ucluetians have found themselves under water restrictions as stage-one restrictions have not been put in place since the summer of 2002, according to

the district's superintendent of public works Warren Cannon.

Cannon told the Westerly the restrictions kicked in because of dry weather, an Environment Canada forecast that projects continued dry weather, and a low stream advisory on Vancouver Island.

"Our ground water table is one meter lower than the normal average this time of year," he said. "A significant

amount of rainfall is needed to recharge the two supplies."

While the restrictions are in effect, residents are prohibited from watering their gardens and yards or doing any outdoor washing on consecutive days.

Locals with even numbered addresses are permitted to water on even numbered days between 6-10 a.m. and 6-10 p.m. Locals with odd numbered

addresses may only water on odd numbered days between 6-10 a.m. and 6-10 p.m. Cannon said there is currently no timetable for the restrictions to be lifted.

"With very little precipitation forecasted in the near future, it is difficult to speculate," he said. "The monitoring process consists of rainfall data, ground and stream water monitoring and is compared to prior

years and volumes used."

He said the restrictions will be enforced but expressed confidence locals will respect their watering times.

"The District hopes the community will conserve as much water as possible, this will help stabilize our supply of potable water for drinking, household use and fire protection," he said.

"Staff will be monitoring the community, however

our community is already very conservative minded when it comes to water conservation and traditionally helpful."

Ucluelet now finds itself in the same boat as its neighbour as Tofino has been under stage-one water restrictions since July 23 and Tofino's CAO Bob Mac-Pherson recently suggested Tofino's restrictions would last into September.

reporter@westerlynews.ca



Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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