Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024

Armstrong, British Columbia · adopted 2024-07-15

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot fad44987bd4c · verified 2026-08-23 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

THE CITY OF ARMSTRONG BYLAW NUMBER 1926, 2024 A Bylaw to Regulate Water Use and Conservation ____________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS the Council of the City of Armstrong is empowered and authorized pursuant to the Community Charter and Local Government Act to regulate in relation to a service; and WHEREAS Council deems it necessary and expedient to set regulations for the year round use and conservation of water; NOW THEREFORE the Council of the City of Armstrong, in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows: 1. Definitions In this bylaw: AGRICULTURAL PURPOSE means the use of water for livestock, poultry or fur-bearing animals or irrigation of greenhouse products, crops, orchards, pasture or other cultivated land as part of a farm operation. AUTHORIZED USER means the owner or occupier of a parcel or premises whose parcel or premises has been approved by the City of Armstrong to be supplied with water. BYLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER means a person appointed by Council to enforce this bylaw. CITY means the City of Armstrong. COMMERCIAL PURPOSE means the use of water for the normal operation of a lawful commercial service, occupation or enterprise, including for drinking water, food preparation, sanitation, fire prevention, and as necessary to provide services to customers, but does not include an Agricultural Purpose. COUNCIL means Municipal Council of the City of Armstrong. DOMESTIC PURPOSE means the use of water for household purposes by the occupants of a dwelling, including for drinking water; food preparation; sanitation; fire prevention; animals, including residential farm animals, kept for household use or pets; FILL means to fill more than 10% of the total capacity of a swimming pool, wading pool, hot tub, garden pond or decorative fountain with water. OCCUPIER has the same meaning as in the Local Government Act. RESIDENTIAL FARM ANIMALS means domestic livestock for home use, consumption, breeding, caring or housing. Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024 OUTDOOR USE means the use of water for any of the following: (a) watering a lawn, flower or vegetable garden, trees, shrubs or landscaped area, which combined do not exceed .50 acre in size and which are adjacent to or on the same parcel as a dwelling or commercial premises; (b) washing a vehicle; (c) washing a driveway, parking area, sidewalk, or exterior building surface; (d) filling a swimming pool, wading pool, hot tub, garden pond or fountain; but does not include the use of water for an Agricultural Purpose. OWNER has the same meaning as in the Local Government Act. WATERING SYSTEM means a watering system which may include in ground automated, drip-irrigation or micro-irrigation systems, soaker hoses or sprinklers that supply domestic use water outdoors and which consumes less than 12 gallons per minute and operates at less than 35 psi. WATER SERVICE AREA refers to all authorized users of the City of Armstrong water utility system located within the City of Armstrong and within the Township of Spallumcheen, namely those properties serviced directly by the City and through the following Water Districts: Silver Star, Stardel, Lansdowne, Highland Park, Round Prairie, and Pleasant Valley. 2. Application 2.1 The restrictions and regulations outlined in this bylaw are applicable to everyone in the Water Service Area. 3. Restrictions and Requirements 3.1 A person must not use water supplied by the City: (a) for other than a Domestic Purpose, Commercial Purpose, Outdoor Use; (b) or in such a manner as to cause the water to be wasted. 3.2 A person using or responsible for the use of water supplied by the City for Outdoor Use must comply with Section 8 (Water Conservation Stages). 3.3 The owner or occupier of a parcel or premises supplied with water by the City: (a) must not cause, suffer or allow the damage to or deterioration of any device or mechanism through which water is piped or used for any purpose, which is likely to or does cause water to be wasted; and (b) must promptly remedy any damage to or deterioration described in paragraph (a) of which the owner or occupier is or becomes aware. Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024 4. Authority 4.1 Where the City's Chief Administrative Officer or Manager of Operations has determined that a provision of this Bylaw is being violated, that official may order the owner or occupier of the parcel or premises to correct the violation at their expense within a specific time period. 4.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Bylaw, the Manager of Operations may order the immediate disconnection of Water Service to any Customer if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the condition of a Customer's supply line poses a threat of contamination to the water supplied by the System or impedes the functioning of the Water Works 4.3 If a person subject to an order under this Bylaw fails to take the required action, the City's Chief Administrative Officer may arrange for the City or a contractor to fulfill the requirement at the expense of the owner or occupant of the property where the violation occurs. The City may recover the costs incurred from the owner or occupant as a debt. If the debt has not been paid by December 31st, the City may collect the amount owing from the property owner in the same manner as for collecting unpaid property taxes. 5. Bylaw Enforcement Officer 5.1 The Bylaw Enforcement Officer is authorized and empowered to inspect, compel, and require that all the regulations and provisions prescribed in this bylaw be carried out. 5.2 The Bylaw Enforcement Officer has the authority to enter at all reasonable times on any property that is subject to this bylaw to ascertain whether the requirements of this bylaw are being met or the regulations in this bylaw are being observed. 5.3 For the purposes of this bylaw, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer means any of the following: - Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Armstrong - Bylaw Enforcement Officer of the City of Armstrong - Manager of Operations of the City of Armstrong - RCMP Officer 5.4 No person shall unreasonably obstruct or prevent a Bylaw Enforcement Officer from carrying out their duties as prescribed in this bylaw. Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024 6. Determining Restrictions 6.1 The Manager of Operations, or designate, shall determine the applicable stage of restriction up to and including Stage 3. 7. Notice 7.1 The City shall give notice or cause notice to be given of the applicable water conservation stage and when it takes effect. 7.2 The obligation to inform Customers of a change under section 7.1 of the Bylaw shall be considered satisfied by way of City of Armstrong Alternative Means of Publication Bylaw No. 1919, 2024. 7.3 Notwithstanding section 7.1 of this Bylaw, the City of Armstrong may impose different or further restrictions not set out in Schedule A - Water Conservation Stages in case of a disaster, emergency, water contamination or system malfunction. Upon receiving notice of such restriction, no person shall use water for the purpose prohibited or more than the allotment imposed by such restriction. 8. Water Conservation Stages 8.1 For the purpose of conserving water Schedule A "Water Conservation Stages", attached and forming part of this bylaw, will apply to the use of water for Outdoor Use within the Water Service Area. 8.2 Stage 1 Water Conservation 8.3 Stage 2 Water Conservation 8.4 Stage 3 Water Conservation 9. Schedule and Severance 9.1 Schedule A is attached to and forms part of this Bylaw. 9.2 If any portion of this bylaw is found by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction to be invalid, the invalid portion is to be severed and the remainder is to remain valid. 10. Offences 10.1 Any person who violates any of the provisions of this bylaw or who suffers or permits any act or thing to be done in contravention of this bylaw or who neglects to do or refrains from doing any act or thing which violates any of the provisions of this bylaw shall be liable to the penalties hereby imposed. Each day that such violation is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offence. Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024 11. Repeal 11.1 City of Armstrong Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No 1806, 2017 is repealed. 12. Citation 12.1 This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "City of Armstrong Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024. READ A FIRST TIME this 24th day of June, 2024. READ A SECOND TIME this 24th day of June, 2024. READ A THIRD TIME this 24th day of June, 2024. ADOPTED on this 15th day of July, 2024 _________________ _________________ Corporate Officer Mayor Signature on file Signature on file Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024 SCHEDULE A - WATER CONSERVATION STAGES Provincial Drought Level 0-3 Provincial Drought Level 4 Provincial Drought Level 5 Water Use Activity Stage 1 Restriction Stage 2 Restriction Stage 3 Restriction Lawns Sprinkler Use (automated or manual) 3 days/week 2 days/week Not permitted Hand watering (spring loaded nozzle or water can) 3 days/week 2 days/week Not permitted New Lawn (permit required from City) As per permit As per permit No new permits issued Trees, Shrubs, Plants Sprinkler Use (automated or manual) 3 days/week 2 days/week Not permitted Drip Irrigation (automated or manual) 3 days/week 2 days/week 1 day/week Hand watering (spring loaded nozzle or water can) No restrictions No restriction No restrictions New trees, shrubs or plants As per permit As per permit No new permits issued Food Producing Plants Sprinkler Use (automated or manual) 3 days/week 2 days/week Not permitted Drip Irrigation (automated or manual) 3 days/week 2 days/ week 1 day/week Hand watering (spring loaded nozzle or water can) No Restrictions No restrictions No restrictions Other Activities Washing vehicle or Boats (spring loaded nozzle or pressure washer) No restrictions No restrictions Permitted to wash boats for control of invasive species Commercial Car washes (must have a business licences to operate as a car wash) No restrictions No restrictions No restrictions Washing Hard Services (sidewalks, driveways, patios, building exteriors) No restrictions Pressure wash only For safety purposes Filling Swimming Pools, hot tubs, ponds fountains No restrictions Fill or top up on prescribed watering hours and days only Not permitted Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1926, 2024 SCHEDULE A - WATER CONSERVATION STAGES CONTINUED Water Use Schedules 3 days/week 2 days/week 1 days/week Group A : Addresses ending in 00-49 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Tuesday, Saturday Tuesday Group B: Addresses ending in 50-99 Monday, Wednesday, Friday Monday, Wednesday Wednesday Note: *Internal properties should use the street address to determine watering days not unit numbers *On designated irrigation days Irrigation is permitted for a maximum of three hours. *No Irrigation is permitted between 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. *Automated irrigation permitted between 10:00 PM - 6:00 AM only.