FAQs

Water Use FAQs

• Why conserve water on the “Wet Coast” downstream of the second largest watershed on Vancouver Island?

  Our large watershed gives the impression of abundant supply, but the amount of water available for community use is limited.

  The City of Campbell River has a license issued through the Ministry of Lands, Forests and Natural Resources stipulating the amount of water that can be withdrawn from John Hart Lake. In addition, weather patterns make it difficult to store water. Typically, a wet fall, winter and spring are followed by dry, hot summers. During the summer, when precipitation is lowest, municipal water consumption triples. Water conservation in Campbell River helps use our system efficiently, saving on operating costs and deferring construction of new facilities until they are absolutely necessary.

• Why not increase water storage capacity to accommodate higher summer consumption?

  Increased water consumption occurs primarily during July and August particularly in the morning and early evening. Using water wisely can significantly decrease consumption – keeping demand within levels the City can deliver, which means that new infrastructure is not yet required, making it possible to defer costly system upgrades.

  In addition, to receive federal and provincial funding, the City is required to have a water conservation program in place, and this means adopting water wise practices, rather than simply increasing the supply.

  Expanding infrastructure would also entail significant environmental impact, which can be avoided by conserving water.

• What are peak demand periods?

  Peak demand periods are the times of day and year when consumption increases.

  For Campbell River, peak periods tend to be in the summer months, especially July and August. The daily peak periods occur in the mornings (5 to 10 a.m.) and in the evenings, (7 to 11 p.m.) when more people tend to be home.

  According to statistics for North America, the primary source of water demand during peak periods is from garden and lawn irrigation.

  The figure below depicts the daily morning and evening peaks from May to September 2018, showing the significant increase in water consumption during July and August, which occasionally exceeds the system’s capacity.

  During a heat wave in July 2009, consumption increased above 1,200 litres per second and firefighting water capacity was compromised. When a sprinkling watering ban was introduced between July 31 and August 7 in 2009, daily peaks disappeared and consumption dropped, establishing adequate water capacity for firefighting.

    

  Figure 1. Daily average flow rates for morning and evening peaks from May 22, 2018 to September 21, 2018. Data was collected from the City of Campbell River’s SCADA database. Peak flow rates were measured by calculating the average from the start of the peak, end of the peak, as well as a median point.

• How do we know the peak water demand is due to residential sprinkler use?

  Outdoor water use accounts for more than 50 per cent of water use in the home during summer months. In Campbell River, water consumption can be accurately calculated by dividing peak summer demand by the annual daily average. The resulting figure is an accurate representation of all outdoor water usage, and lawn irrigation is by far the biggest contributor to residential outdoor water use.

• How much water is lost to leaks in the system?

  Without meters on all properties, it is difficult to accurately measure and assess leaks in the water distribution system. Based on the overall age and type of material used in Campbell River’s water distribution system and the Environment Canada 2011 Municipal Water Use report, leaks and maintenance losses are estimated to be 13.3 per cent.

• What is done to address system leaks?

  Without meters on all properties, it is difficult to accurately determine leak locations and measure water loss. The City is developing a leak detection program, replacing aging water mains and improving water system pressure management to reduce leaks.

• What is the City doing to reduce outdoor water use at City run facilities/properties during summer?

  During watering restrictions, the City does reduce irrigation to parks and sports fields where possible. Fields that experience significant use by the community will continue to be watered regularly as the combination of heavy foot traffic and long-term water stress increase the chance of permanent die-off. The City constantly works to balance water conservation with protecting these high-value assets that are used by the community and avoiding costly replacements.

• What steps is the City taking to conserve water on City-owned properties?

  There are a number of important steps that the City takes to reduce water use, including:

  • Following water restrictions at all properties where possible
  • Implementing strategic watering plans on high-value assets such as playing fields
  • Installing motion-sensor taps and toilets to reduce bathroom water waste, as facilities are upgraded
  • Monitoring for leaks within the water system
  • Postponing water intensive preventative maintenance activities, such as unidirectional flushing, until necessary