Campfire left unattended, high consumption of water has City staff asking for public support
By Nelson Daily Staff
City management is pleading for the support of residents after staff was forced to implement Level Three water restrictions last week.
The decision, made by City of Nelson managers following an increase of 35 percent more water usage this summer by residents, comes on the heels of a report that asmall camp fire was found smoldering and left unattended alongthe rail grade pathway above Uphill.
“It was shocking and needless to say, very dangerous,” said Nelson Fire and Rescue Chief Len MacCharles.
The discovery is troubling to City of Nelson staff as there is a campfire and burning ban throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.
And BC Wildfire resources are needed to battle wildfires like the one at Sitkum Creek, that came dangerously close to harming residents on the North Shore.
Director of Public Works, Colin Innes said in a media release the importance of the recent conservation measures.
“There are four levels of conservation when it comes to the state of the City’s water system and those levels are based on two things: how much water we currently have to provide fresh drinking water and for fire protection, and our projected run off and precipitation levels,” Innes said, adding the consumption increase is the highest level of water use in recent years.
“And right now, based on our current water usage and supply, we have had to move to Level Three — which means nothing more than once-a-week lawn and garden watering.”
The increase in water consumption was due to the warmer than normal temperatures the region experienced in the early part of summer.
Those temperatures, combined with a reduced snowpack in the mountains, have put a severe drain on the city reservoir.
Even with Monday’s afternoon monsoon and milder temperatures the City of Nelson is stressing that local residents follow the watering restrictions issued last week or face fines.
“These restrictions are officially in place now and everyone in the City needs to abide by them,”said Mayor Deb Kozak.
The restrictions require that residents significantly reduce lawn, flower bed and garden watering.
All other outdoor water usage, such as car washing and driveway rinses, is strictly prohibited.
“I’m confident that we can pull together and significantly reduce our water usage,”Kozak added.
MacCharles, who visited the City’s reservoir last week with Innes, said for every litre of water wasted on lawns or driveways, is one less litre Nelsonites have for drinking and fire protection.
And through staff calculations, if the current usage can’t be reduced, Nelson Fire and Rescue’s abilities to fight fires could be compromised.
“If local residents do not comply with the new water restrictions we’ll have no other choice but to begin enforcing the restrictions with bylaw patrols and fines,” McCharles said.
Household irrigation — which includes watering lawns, gardens and other outdoor usages — accounts for 39 percent of Nelson’s water consumption.
Residents’ attention to the restrictions would result in a significant savings of water — providing the surplus required for fire protection in the City.
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