Water Conservation

Water Conservation Sign

Because the Vancouver Island summer weather can be long, dry and warm, the North Cedar Improvement District, in 2009, put in place a water conservation program. This program provides varying levels of watering restrictions, to insure there is adequate drinking water for residents and flow rates are sufficient for firefighting crews to connect to fire hydrants and fight fires.

The water conservation level is posted on two signs within the North Cedar district, along with the Fire Rating Signs. You'll see one sign as you enter Cedar, just west of the Nanaimo River bridge (Street View), near the intersection of Cedar Road and Wilkinson Road. The other is located on the front lawn of the North Cedar Fire Hall, facing Yellow Point Road (Street View). The current water conservation level is also shown on this website.

Residents are required to register their pools. You can register your pool by calling the NCID (722-3711) or by email (info@ncid.bc.ca). There is no cost for the program, only a request to follow a pool-filling schedule to ensure water flow rates are maintained.

Below is a table that briefly shows what restrictions are in place, for each water conservation level (1 through 4). Below the table is more information about the details of these restrictions.

Watering Restrictions

General Information

You can water your garden, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables on days other than your watering day and/or time - if you use a hand-held container or a hose with a shut-off nozzle.

The use of micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation is permitted between the hours of 1:00 am and 4:00 am on designated days, as well as during the regular designated time frame for each stage.

Siding, driveways, vehicle, RV & boat washing may be done during water times listed above, but only with a hand held container or a hose with a shut off nozzle.

All irrigation/sprinkling systems must adhere to the allotted watering times for each stage of watering.

Special permits are available through the District office for new landscaping. Permits are valid for three weeks from the date of issuance and will allow sprinkling outside of restricted days/hours.

Level Two Restrictions

1. Must use hand held containers or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle outside watering times listed above.
2. Washing driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and buildings is permitted, but only as necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative or stucco and/or preparing a surface prior to paving or brickwork.
3. · Filling of pools is not permitted. Filling of hot tubs and water features is permitted, but only during allotted watering times.

Level Three Restrictions

1. No washing of vehicles, driveways or sidewalks.
2. No use of decorative fountains unless they use re-circulated water.
3. No filling of pools, wading pools, hot tubs, garden ponds or decorative fountains.
4. No washing of exterior building surfaces - including windows.
5. watering of vegetable gardens and landscaping is still permitted.

Level Four Restrictions

1. No washing of vehicles, driveways or sidewalks.
2. No use of decorative fountains unless they use re-circulated water.
3. No filling of pools, wading pools, hot tubs, garden ponds or decorative fountains.
4. No washing of exterior building surfaces - including windows.
5. The watering of vegetables and landscaping is still permitted - but only using a hand held container. Absolutely no sprinkling or any other type of out door watering is allowed.