News & Media

What You Need to Know about Ladysmith Moving to Stage 3 Water Restrictions

Stage 3 Water Restrictions are in effect on Friday, June 21 for residents of Ladysmith, the Diamond Improvement District and Stz'uminus First Nation.

The Town of Ladysmith is taking this proactive step as a result of already extremely low water flows in our local creeks as well as the warm temperatures expected over the coming months.

The measure will also help to keep water consumption down while we repair the water main that broke near Stocking Lake over the weekend.

The public's role in water conservation is also vital due to the increased risk of wildfires as a result of the hot and dry summer weather conditions.

Ladysmith residents currently use 5,000 cubic metres daily on average and a suggested target of 3,500 to 4,000 cubic metres would help to keep our water supply levels sustainable.

Every drop counts, and this year more than ever, as we enter Stage 3 Water Restrictions almost two months earlier than in 2018.

Throughout the spring, the community experienced rainfall totals below the recent historical average which led to less water flowing through our streams and in Holland Lake and Stocking Lake, our only two water supply sources.

Between March and the end of May, Ladysmith received 54 mm of rainfall compared to the previous three year average of 212 mm during this same three month period.

With no snow pack and little to no precipitation we won't be able to top up levels as we draw down water over the summer.  Ensuring water levels at Holland and Stocking Lake remain as high as possible throughout the summer is important in our defence against fighting potential wildfires.

In an effort to reduce the Town's own water use we are scaling back irrigation at many of the municipal parks and boulevards.

Minimal watering at the High Street, Holland Creek and Aggie Field ball parks as well as the Ladysmith Golf Course will continue so there is no permanent damage to the green space.

The Transfer Beach Park spray pad will be left on until further notice to provide families with children relief from the warm weather.  The water that is used for the spray pad system is recycled and in turn irrigates the surrounding park space.

With a little effort, we can all reduce household water consumption at home by as much as 40 per cent. 

Teaming up with two other neighbours to water lawns sparingly or not at all can save up to 17,000 litres of water per household over the summer months - altogether that's roughly enough to fill the Frank Jameson Community Centre swimming pool.

See more tips on water conservation here: https://www.ladysmith.ca/sustainability-green-living/water-conservation

Have a water saving tip you want to share with the community? Email info@ladysmith.ca