Water Wisely
The CRD's Stage 1 Watering Schedule is in effect May 1 until September 30. In summer months, water use in the capital region increases by 44%, mostly due to non-essential outdoor uses like lawn and garden watering.
The fall and winter rains replenish the Sooke Lake Reservoir and must last the entire year for drinking water, protection against wildfire events and droughts and support vital habitats for many endangered species.
By following the Stage 1 Watering Schedule and using water wisely outdoors, you can help save water, money, time, as well as help the environment. Read more >>
Practice Spring Lawn Care
Every summer, lawn care is a major draw in our water supply, but a healthy lawn needs less water. Practice spring lawn care for a thriving water wise lawn during the dry summer months:
- Remove dead matted grass by de-thatching
- Aerate to allow water and nutrients to seep into the soil more easily
- Apply lime if needed
- Top dress with compost and overseed with drought-tolerant alternative like micro clover
- Mow high to encourage stronger, deeper roots
- Check watering system for leaks. Run through your watering system looking for leaks from frost or freezing
Check out our lawn care calendar (PDF)!
Benefits of Water Conservation
- Lower water and energy bills by reducing your metered usage.
- Reduced environmental impact by deferring the need to supply water from new sources and by reducing the energy and materials required to treat and deliver water.
- Delay in building new water infrastructure that would be necessary to provide increased capacity if demand continues to rise.
- Release of reservoir water to enhance fish habitat in the Sooke River, Charters River and Goldstream River.
- Buffers against the unknown — With the effects of climate change, shorter, more intense rain events and longer, dry spells in the summer months are expected. Having as much water storage in the reservoir as possible provides the assurance that not only will there be a sufficient quantity of drinking water for the year, but provides the flexibility to deal with drought and forest fires.
- Enhanced drinking water quality by maintaining higher water levels in our primary drinking water supply, the Sooke Lake Reservoir.
The capital region enjoys some of the highest quality drinking water in the world at a reasonable cost - maintaining this critical resource requires each of us to make water wise choices each and every day.