Stage 3 Water Restrictions are now in effect.
Following prolonged dry weather and worsening drought across the province, the Abbotsford Mission Water and Sewer Commission (AMWSC) is moving from Stage 2 (implemented July 21, 2023) to Stage 3 Water Restrictions effective immediately and is encouraging all residents to take additional steps to conserve water this summer. These measures will remain in effect until October 31, 2023.
Stage 3 restrictions prohibit lawn sprinkling in both communities, but hand watering of lawns is allowed with a hose equipped with a spring-loaded shut off device or hand-held container. Garden irrigation, watering of flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables may be carried out using a hand-held wand, a hose equipped with a spring-loaded shut off device or micro/drip irrigation.
- Lawn sprinkling is prohibited
- No new lawn permits will be issued
- All water features are prohibited
- Overhead sprinklers are prohibited
- No impermeable surface washing
- No vehicle or boat washing
- No filling or refilling of pools
Clearbrook Waterworks District requests that all of its residents/customers adhere to the staged watering restrictions prescribed by the City of Abbotsford.
Let’s all do our part to conserve and reserve this summer! View the Water Restriction FAQs to learn more or view the Water Shortage Response Plan for detailed watering information.
Access the British Columbia Drought Information Portal
About Water Restrictions
While our water system can easily meet average day demands, our summer demands can be much higher. Water restrictions are in place to benefit the whole community and ensure that we continue to have a reliable quantity of water available all summer.
During the summer months, our water consumption increases, resulting in “peak days” when daily demand reaches its annual maximum. Our water system infrastructure is designed to meet peak day demands; however, this infrastructure is expensive and often has environmental impacts to water tables and streams. Restricting water use reduces peak day demands, thereby minimizing the need for new infrastructure while ensuring water system capacity is adequate to meet all needs. Neighbouring municipalities also adopt similar restrictions to reduce peak demands.
Our water restrictions are tied to the level of Dickson Lake. Dickson Lake provides the majority of drinking water to the residents of Abbotsford and Mission. Dickson Lake is monitored and the level is checked daily. As the lake gets lower, it triggers higher water restrictions during the peak water use months (May to October).
Both Mission and Abbotsford follow a Water Shortage Response Plan that is based on the Dickson Lake level. The lower the level, the higher the stage of water restrictions. Certain outdoor water uses are restricted during different stages. There are no water restrictions between November 1 – April 30.