Province Asks Residents to Conserve Water, With Two-Thirds of Water Basins Experiencing Level 4 or 5 Drought Conditions

With two-thirds of BC’s water basins currently experiencing drought conditions of level 4 or 5, the Province is urging residents to conserve water.

BC uses a five stage system to measure drought, with adverse impacts to ecosystems likely at level four and above.

Four of the province’s 34 water basins are currently at drought level five, including the Fort Nelson and Bulkley Lake Basins in the north.

Another 18 are at level four, including the Haida Gwaii, Finlay, and Parsnip Basins, all three Peace Region basins, and both in the Upper Fraser.

Drought levels in the Skeena are at stage three, and drop to stage two and one in the Stikine and Northwest basins, respectively.

Provincial officials are working with First Nations and local governments to ensure water is available and conservation plans in place.

Individuals should avoid watering lawns, water gardens in the mornings only, keep cold refrigerated water, instead of running tap water, take shorter showers, and more.