Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Prolonged and intense drought conditions are forcing the Sunshine Coast's largest water system to impose its highest-level restrictions on water use starting Friday. Stage 4 water restrictions will prohibit outdoor use of drinking water for more than 20,000 residents in communities including Sechelt, Roberts Creek and Halfmoon Bay until further notice.
An ongoing drought on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast has caused the region's water supply to reach historic low levels, and local authorities are warning of a "very dire situation" if it continues. The Sunshine Coast Regional District has been at Stage 4 water restrictions since Aug. 31, banning all outdoor use, and an emergency operations centre was established last week to respond to the crisis.
Following weeks of hot and dry weather and ongoing high water use, Stage 4 water restrictions are in effect for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) until further notice. The severe water conservation regulations, banning all outdoor use of drinking water, came into effect at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 10. The restrictions apply to those on the Chapman water system, which includes the District of Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and parts of Elphinstone. A $500 fine applies to anyone found not complying. As of Aug. 9, the SCRD had issued 57 warnings and four fines since Stage 1 began in May. “Under these drought conditions, water use priorities focus on water for human health, firefighting and environmental flow requirements,” an Aug. 10 SCRD press release said.
