The Capital Regional District is asking some North Saanich residents to cut back on their water use for the next few days so the system can recover from record use during the heat wave.
Residents have been warned they may experience low water pressure and possible service interruption.
The CRD has asked residents located north of John Road in North Saanich to reduce water use where possible over the next few days to allow the water supply and storage system to recover.
Ted Robbins, general manager of integrated water services for the CRD, said the area is under stress because of its location at the tip of the Saanich Peninsula and at the “extreme end of the water-supply system.”
“All the water for the North Saanich zone around the Cloake Hill reservoir – the last balancing reservoir in Saanich – is struggling to keep up with demand,” he said. “Over the weekend with extreme temperatures, we also had the highest demand ever recorded in the region.”
For the 24-hour period covering Sunday, the region consumed 273 million litres of water. Typically, in winter, the region will consume about 90 million litres in a 24-hour period.
Robbins said in normal situations, there is usually a drop in consumption at the start of a week, allowing the system to stabilize, but with the hot weather, demand has not let up.
Robbins noted that consumption started early each day over the weekend — around 3:30 a.m. — and continued on Monday morning as well. Because there was no drop in water use, the CRD had to step in.
Residents have been asked to do their bit by wherever possible reducing outdoor water usage over the next couple of days.
“We’re asking people to reduce consumption so we don’t find ourselves in a worse situation,” said Robbins, noting they are already hearing of low-pressure issues from some people.
The CRD and North Saanich utility crews are also making adjustments to valves in the distribution system that allow more water to flow to the Cloake Hill pressure zone and reservoir to maintain pressure and flow.
Robbins said they are also shuttling water to the reservoir near the northernmost tip of the Saanich Peninsula as a precaution.
Geoff Orr, mayor of the District of North Saanich, said they will continue to monitor the situation and see how residents respond to the advisory.
“There will be some physical and mechanical changes and if the CRD feels they are not seeing the reduction in consumption they need or hope for, there may be another response,” he said.
Robbins said the rest of the CRD is in good shape and the system, despite high demand, is continuing to perform well.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Island Health issued a boil-water notice for Mayne Island due to the presence of E. coli in the water system.
aduffy@timescolonist.com
