Please use the link below to the Town of Ladysmith’s Water Restrictions and follow those guidelines.
https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water
Frequently Asked Questions
(As taken from the Town of Ladysmith)
Why are school and municipal playing fields exempt from the regulation?
These areas are often too large to be effectively irrigated within the allowed sprinkling times. Also, most playing fields are built on a sand base for better drainage. Turf grown on a sand base can die if not watered. Due to the high replacement costs of playing fields and large irrigated grass areas, the Town of Ladysmith believes it is poor use of public money to let it die due to lack of watering. Irrigation to turf is shut down in community and regional parks during Stage 3 watering restrictions.
In addition, the Town of Ladysmith is reducing the amount of irrigation to sports fields with limited use; however, fields must be maintained at an acceptable level to avoid liability concerns.
What about gardens, flower beds, and trees?
Residents can use a bucket, spring-loaded spray nozzle or micro/drip irrigation to water trees, shrubs, flowers or vegetables on any day of the week during Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 water use restrictions. Watering is to take place between 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in order to reduce evaporation and increase efficiency.
Can I wash my car or boat?
Vehicles and boats can be washed at any time during Stage 1 and Stage 2 water use restrictions. To prevent the unnecessary wasting of water boats and cars must be washed with a hose equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle and a bucket filled with water. Washing is not permitted during Stage 3 restrictions.
What about a newly-sodded lawn?
New lawns should be planted in the spring to avoid excessive use of artificial irrigation during the drier summer months when water is limited. New lawns require a sprinkling permit in order to exempt them from Stage 1 water use restrictions. Sprinkling permits can be obtained by contacting the Public Works Office by email at info@ladysmith.ca or by telephone at 250-245-6445.
Sprinkling permits will be issued for 21 days where new sod has been planted or where the lawn will be grown from seed. Sprinkling permits will not be issued during Stage 2 and Stage 3 water use restrictions.
Do these restrictions apply to soaker hoses or in-ground sprinkler systems?
Yes. The restrictions apply to all sprinkling systems.
Why 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.?
Watering during the morning and evening reduces the amount of evaporation that occurs from the lawns, sprinklers and soil.
Can I hose down my house or other outdoor surface?
Stage 1 and 2 only allow outdoor surfaces including houses to be hosed down; Stage 3 does not allow for hosing down of outdoor surfaces.
If I pay my taxes why can’t I water my lawn whenever I want?
Water rates and fees vary in range per year per household, depending on where you live. Increased demands in water consumption result in increased costs for pumping and treating water and eventually result in the need for the upgrading of infrastructure which could increase rates substantially.
Additionally our water sources are not infinite and using less water benefits other system users and the environment that these sources support.
If I live in a strata, how do I determine my watering day?
The watering day is dependent on the address of the strata and not the unit number.
Can my kids still play in the sprinkler?
Yes, during Stage 1 and Stage 2; please ensure the water is shut off when playtime is finished. These stages allow recreational use of sprinkling systems. Stage 3 is a complete watering ban – this includes recreational use.
If there is a total sprinkling ban, will my lawn die?
Your lawn will naturally go dormant and turn brown during a hot, dry spell. A good rainfall or cooler weather may help revive your lawn. Watering lawns sparingly or not at all during the summer months saves one household up to 17,000 litres.
I can’t meet the alternate day and time restrictions of the bylaw. What should I do?
The water use restrictions must be met; automated sprinkler systems that cannot be programmed to comply with the restrictions will have to be manually-operated.
My fertilizer-pesticide-herbicide application requires watering outside my designated watering time?
It is expected that the watering restrictions will be followed. Lawn fertilization is most effective when applied in fall, early spring and late spring. Fertilizer is more likely to harm your lawn than help it during a period of drought. If you do plan to fertilize your lawn during the summer months it is best wait until the forecast predicts steady light rain.
I am not connected to the municipal water supply. I use a private well or water source for lawn watering. Do the water use restrictions apply to me?
Water restrictions do not apply to those homes on private wells or water sources. However property owners are encouraged to be good environmental stewards and follow the water use restrictions to conserve this vital resource. Aquifers are; for the most part, interconnected with river flows or neighbouring properties water resources, therefore, the more everyone can reduce their water usage the better.
What is considered wasting water?
Wasting water includes allowing water to run excessively or unnecessarily to waste. Some examples include:
- Allowing irrigated water to puddle or run off a lawn into the storm drain system
- Allowing irrigation water to be sprayed onto a paved surface such as sidewalks, driveways, roadways, curbs, or gutters
- Washing of vehicles with a hose not equipped with spring-loaded nozzle or shut off valve at the discharge end of the hose
Why are there exemptions for commercial enterprises?
Sprinkling regulations are meant to reduce water use in ways that do not cause serious economic hardship. Those users requiring water as part of a commercial operation are expected to conserve as much water as possible without resulting in a loss of business.