1116 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Yes, it’s the local tool in the back pocket of our governments as a means of controlling growth. Parks have also been established in places where future roads might make sense. Even our reservoir lands are so massive so as to borderline on nutty, and they prohibit things like a reasonable Malahat bypass.

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Parksville has implemented watering restrictions for residents, calling on them to reduce their water use amidst the Stage 5 drought, but city property is exempt from the restrictions.

 

When Parksville resident Mathew Curry was out on an early morning run near Ballenas Secondary, he was surprised to see the sprinklers on.

 

“When I was taking a spin down here, ran by just down here, noticed the sprinklers were running, so about five o’clock in the morning. Had to dodge around them. Kind of wet concrete, wet benches, everything,” Curry said.

 

Curry says city sprinklers are operating at full throttle, dousing sports fields, and boulevards, despite everyone who lives here being told to conserve.

 

 

 

https://www.cheknews...sville-1161085/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 July 2023 - 12:36 AM.

[Nparker]

Do as I say not as I do.🤬

[Mike K.]

Great time to run them is 5 o’clock.

[Victoria Watcher]

'We are subsisting on fog and dew:' Tofino faces a water crisis

 

Outdoor water use is banned, and a packed town hall meeting Tuesday night was told that if the drought persists in Tofino, more drastic measures will be on the table

 

Tofino is teetering on a water crisis.

 

The streams on nearby Meares Island that supply the resort community with drinking water are still flowing and the reservoirs are full, but unprecedented drought conditions have the town on edge.

 

A packed town hall meeting Tuesday night was told that if the drought persists, more drastic measures would be on the table. A local state of emergency could be declared and would likely include suspension of some businesses, limiting tourism and tanker trucks bringing in water.

 

______________________

 

Tofino is one of the wettest places in Canada, historically receiving more than three metres of rain annually, but most of it falls over the winter and spills over the reservoir system.

 

The community has faced water shortages before. In August 2006, all tourism businesses were ordered shut down by the district after the shortage became critical. In response, resort owner Chris Lefevre paid $50,000 for a 10-day supply of water from Ucluelet.

 

Boosted by about a million visitors a year, most arriving in the summer months, Tofino’s population is also growing rapidly. Census data from 2021 shows the population has increased 28% to 2,217 since 2016 — the second highest rate of growth on the Island after Langford.

 

That’s put extra pressure on the town’s infrastructure, including water use.

 

Last year, Tofino council authorized staff to develop a water master plan for infrastructure improvements over the next two decades. Law said the plan will address summer population growth, changing climate and infrastructure renewal to the water system. That report is expected to be complete by the first quarter of next year.

 

________________________

 

Stage 4 restrictions still haven’t been clearly defined, but if the reservoirs show diminishing supplies or there is a massive wildfire, Rodgers said, measures could include closing some businesses and resorts and limiting access to the town by visitors.

 

Rodgers said drinking water and fire suppression will be priorities.

 

He said the district has been in discussions with water haulers for two months about potentially supplying the reservoirs, noting it could take about 170 truckloads to meet the current demand.

 

“There are no silver bullets. All users must find ways to reduce water usage. We have enough now but it’s important to convey the message.”

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-crisis-7301290

 

 

 

Tofino is one of the wettest places in Canada, historically receiving more than three metres of rain annually, but most of it falls over the winter and spills over the reservoir system.

 

 

Sound familiar?  Improve the damn (literally) collection system.

 

 

 

The town has introduced a “20% challenge” asking residents, resort properties and businesses to reduce water usage with measures like alternate toilet flushes and cutting shower time in half. The goal is to hit a target of 1,700 cubic metres of water a day to get Tofino through to the rainy season in the fall.

 

Rodgers said typical demand is about 2,200 cubic metres a day.

 

_________________________

 

He said the district has been in discussions with water haulers for two months about potentially supplying the reservoirs, noting it could take about 170 truckloads to meet the current demand.

 

 

 

 

 

170 truckloads per....?  Per day?   Total for the season?

 

 

 

I'll try to work it out:

 

Some smaller water trucks will have a capacity of between 5,000 and 10,000 litres (1320.86 – 2641.721 gallons), whereas bigger tanks will hold up to 20,000 litres (5283.441 gallons).

 

https://wabash.ca/th...3.441 gallons).

 

20,000 litres is 20 cubic metres.

 

So 170 of those big trucks would bring 3,400 cubic metres per day.  

 

So I guess if the reservoir runs completely dry they need 170 trucks per day.

 

Running 24/7 if we have the trucks available would mean 7 trucks every hour.  Which does not sound too bad, depending on where they get the water from.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 July 2023 - 01:13 AM.

[Blair M.]

With Kennedy Lake only 20 kilometres away, it would seem nobody in Tofino is going to go without water to drink or cook with.

Inconvenient, but is it an emergency?

The Tofino water system is very tiny when you take into account the influx of tourists over the summer, and the non-stop construction of new homes in and around Tofino.

The final delivery reservoir is a large tank on a hill south of town, filled with water from three small creeks on Meares Island.

https://tofino.civic...document/10297/

Edited by Blair M., 21 July 2023 - 05:40 AM.

[Mike K.]

Kennedy Lake is a saltwater lake, I’m quite sure.

And yes, we all know there’s hardly a drop of rain in the summer months. We just get lucky year after year with the reservoirs we have. If they want to keep growing, and maintain a big tourism industry, they have to expand their water storage. There’s no magic here.

[Blair M.]

There are portions of Kennedy Lake that are tidally influenced, but it's a freshwater lake.

https://www.gotofino...sed recreation.

Edited by Blair M., 21 July 2023 - 05:56 AM.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, then that’s alright then.

Seems like Tofino just has to bite the bullet and accommodate its bigger population. Its population has doubled since the 90s. And tourism is as big as it ever was. Something has to give.

[Victoria Watcher]

Build a contingency fund for a mobile desalination plant when and if it’s ever needed. And raise the reservoir capacity.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 July 2023 - 06:08 AM.

[Mike K.]

Maybe everyone should just chill.

I just checked, and they’ve got a whole bunch of rain in the forecast. It’ll be alright.

[Nparker]

The persistence in not increasing water storage across Vancouver Island is lunacy. I'd much rather see my taxes go towards enlarging reservoirs than musical handrails, colourfully-painted crosswalks and public ping-pong tables.

[lanforod]

Next week looks like one day of rain maybe and some evening showers.

 

Anyways, hopefully their report includes adding reservoir capacity if they're that short of water.

[Matt R.]

Why do they keep permitting development if water supply is so sketchy? Weird.

[LJ]

In Arizona, you have to prove you have access to a 100-year water supply source for any new construction.

[Matt R.]

On salt spring it’s a thousand or more apparently.

[Sparky]

You have to drill a successful well in Rural Saanich before you can apply for a building permit.

[Matt R.]

So what’s the problem in Tofino?

[Victoria Watcher]

So what’s the problem in Tofino?

 

The three reservoirs only store about 2-3 days worth of water.

 

7,400 square metres.

 

Or maybe 15 days:

 

https://tofino.civic...document/10297/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 July 2023 - 11:11 PM.

[Matt R.]

Oh, overpopulated.