Government Response To Drought Conditions In B.C. Creates Potential For Water Use Curtailment

On July 15, the British Columbia government announced a Level 4 drought rating for the South Coast and Lower Fraser areas of the province, which could lead to orders to temporarily reduce or cease water use and put rights held under existing Water Act licences at risk.

BACKGROUND

B.C.'s Drought Response Plan, the policy under which the government coordinates the responses by the province and local governments to drought conditions, is organized around four successive levels of drought. Level 4 is imposed when conditions are extremely dry, there is insufficient supply to meet community or ecosystem needs, and progressively more severe and widespread socio-economic impacts are expected. Level 4 designations now apply to all of greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island.