'The worst that it has ever been': Concern mounting as severe drought conditions persist in parts of B.C.
The situation is dire. That is how the drought conditions on the B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are being described.
The water supply for about 20,000 residents is so low, there is only enough water to last until early November.
“This is the worst that it has ever been” said Remko Rosenboom, the general manager of infrastracture services for the regional district
“It’s now over 90 days since we had a good amount of rain here,” he explained.
This week, the district used a helicopter to bring in a syphon system to draw water from a lake after water levels dropped to unprecedented lows.
“Because it is pretty serious, we have activated an emergency operations centre to coordinate our efforts,” Rosenboom explained.
He said the district may have to truck water from further up the coast or the Lower Mainland which he described as a "logistically, technically and financially very cumbersome exercise.”
Other parts of the province are also seeing concerning conditions.
Earlier this week, disturbing video emerged near Bella Bella. A social media post showed thousands of dead salmon at the bottom of a creek.
"We’re feeling the impacts of climate change all around us in B.C.,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Lands, Water and Resource Stewardship said in a statement.
“This is a highly unusual situation caused by recent drought conditions and it is very concerning to see the impact of drought conditions on wild salmon.”
In its statement, the Ministry of Forests said several areas in the province are being impacted, including the east and west Vancouver Island basins.
“At Drought Level 4, conditions are extremely dry and adverse effects to socio-economic or ecosystem values are likely,” the ministry said.
On the Sunshine Coast, residents are under Stage 4 water restrictions, meaning water can’t be used at all outside -- not even for washing cars or watering gardens.
The restrictions could tighten even further if the situation doesn’t improve. The hope in the area is for rain which is not in the forecast.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.