Level 3 Outdoor Water Conservation in Effect June 1
May 28, 2026
On June 1, water conservation Level 3 will be in effect until further notice. The change to Level 3 is primarily driven by unseasonably warm and dry weather and low snowpack on Vancouver Island. Snowpack is currently critically low, sitting at about 20% of normal seasonal average.
Limiting water usage now will help prevent enhanced conservation levels throughout the summer. During dry summer months which can lead to a significant increase in water demand, water conservation measures are implemented to manage the high demand. Level 3 allows the City to maintain essential drinking water, hygiene and firefighting capabilities. Limiting non-essential uses, like lawn watering, will help to ensure sufficient flows in the Englishman River to meet environmental flow needs and maintain aquatic habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
Level 3 offers some flexibility for residents to decide where and how to cut back on water use wherever possible. In Level 3, sprinkler watering of lawns is allowed one day per week.
LEVEL 3 GUIDELINES
- Watering days are limited to one day per week: odd-numbered houses on Monday and even-numbered on Thursday.
- Watering of lawns with pop-up spray, rotors and sprinklers is permitted one day per week only between 7 and 10 am OR 7 and 10 pm for a maximum two hours. Odd-numbered houses on Monday and even-numbered on Thursday.
- Ornamental shrubs, flowers and trees are restricted to hand-held container or hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle.
- Between 7 and 10 am OR 7 and 10 pm on your assigned watering day, vehicles, RVs, boats, and exterior building surfaces may be washed using a hand-held container or hose equipped with shutoff nozzle.
- Between 7 and 10 am OR 7 and 10 pm on assigned watering day, walkways, driveways, buildings (siding), or parking lots may be washed using a hand-held container or hose equipped with shutoff nozzle.
- Anytime on assigned watering day, swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, garden ponds, and water features may be filled with water.
Please note, vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from all water conservation levels as are businesses which require water for operations, essential municipal sports fields and nurseries.
RESOURCES
- Details about the City’s water framework including conservation tips may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville.
- The City is a partner in the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Team WaterSmart program.
- Province of BC drought information.
For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073
