It’s that time of year again — outdoor watering restrictions for the City of Castlegar kicked in on June 15.
The watering restrictions are primarily put in place to spread out the peak demand to the water system that occurs during the summer. Daily residential water use increases as much as 200 per cent in the city, mostly due to garden watering and car washing.
Residents are only allowed to do outdoor watering and car washing between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. and then again between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. every second day.
Residents with odd-numbered street addresses water on odd calendar dates and residents with even addresses water on even calendar dates.
Residents who use a water-regulating system such as timers and underground sprinklers are exempt as long as they water between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on alternating days.
Residents of Blueberry and Lucas Road are included in the restrictions.
The fine is $50 for breaking the watering rules.
With a lake full of water as the city’s supply, people often wonder why we even need watering restrictions.
The answer is that the entire water system has to be built and maintained to accommodate the peak demand to the system. So by reducing the peak flow, the pressures on the whole system can be reduced. Peak demand is used for all of the calculations for reservoir sizing, treatment facility sizing and purification and delivery systems.
The city also says excessive watering can impact the main water supply and storage for firefighting purposes.
The restrictions will remain in place until Sept. 15.
RELATED: Water restrictions in effect for RDCK rural water systems
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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