A tighter water restriction system will be in place in Whistler beginning in May. Under the new bylaw approved by the Whistler Council on March 19, Stage 2 Water Restrictions will limit automatic in-ground irrigation systems to six hours, three times per week, from nine hours per day, seven days per week.
Sign up for local news alerts from Whistler Daily Post.
The Whistler Council approved the changes to the bylaw in a unanimous vote at its March 19 meeting.
Additionally, Whistler neighbourhoods will be divided into two groups: half can irrigate lawns on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the other half can irrigate lawns on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This will further reduce the water demand at any particular time and create recovery periods for the water system to refill reservoirs, according to a staff report presented to the council on March 19.
“Adoption of the amendment will allow Whistler to conserve the existing water supply,” said Chris Wike, the RMOW’s Manager of Utilities. “This will allow Whistler to continue to provide a reliable domestic water supply and the required firefighting water storage while pursuing other water conservation measures.”
Pressure on water infrastructure is increasing as low snowpack, drought conditions, and more wildfires raise water demand and reduce reservoir recovery time. Due to population growth and drought conditions in recent years, the amount of water available from the municipality’s existing water sources is also reducing, the RMOW report states.
The Outdoor Potable Water Usage Amendment Bylaw focuses on water conservation in three stages:
Stage 1: Minimal restrictions fall to spring
Stage 2: Summer season irrigation schedule, with time-of-day and day-of-week restrictions
Stage 3: Severe irrigation and outdoor water use restrictions