State of Emergency as Stage 5 Drought Conditions in British Columbia Plunges Village to Water Shortage

Mayor Runtz announces the State of Emerge for a British Columbia village struggling with water shortage amid Stage 5 drought conditions.

Water Shortage and Stage 5 Drought Conditions

Gene Runtz finds himself deeply concerned because in his capacity as the mayor of McBride, British Columbia, there is a potential water shortage in the coming winter. This shortfall threatens to leave both the village's residents and firefighters in a state of desperation as they grapple with an extended period of drought. Situated approximately 180 kilometers to the east of Prince George in central British Columbia, McBride declared a state of emergency on September 19.

Subsequently, on the following day, they imposed restrictions on water usage under Stage 5 drought conditions, the most severe category on the provincial scale.

The state of emergency has since been extended until the end of October, following Mayor Runtz's written request to the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma.

Gathering Data for the Right Course of Action

Runtz emphasized the gravity of the situation, asserting that they are at a critical level that they have never been at before. To address this urgent challenge, the village municipality is enlisting the expertise of a hydrologist to provide immediate data on water levels in Dominion Creek, which serves as the sole water source for the community of just under 600 people in the Robson Valley, near the Alberta border.

Runtz notes the current absence of sufficient data, making it challenging to determine the necessary course of action. This may include constructing a temporary dam at a higher point on the creek, above the existing dam, to capture any available water at higher elevations. He anticipates obtaining more information within the next two weeks.

Dominion Creek is primarily fed by the snowmelt from Lucille Mountain, which historically retained snow cover through June, July, and sometimes into mid-August. In June, however, the British Columbia government alerted Runtz, after reviewing satellite imagery, that no snow remained on Lucille. Runtz reflects that the situation is historic because that had never happened before.

Water Use Restrictions and Emergencies

Since September, residents have been subject to a water use restriction order, prohibiting the use of sprinklers, watering outdoor plants by hand, cleaning building exteriors, and filling pools or fountains. During the same month, McBride Fire Chief David Hruby, who also doubles as a farmer, described the drought conditions as the most severe he has encountered in his more than four-decade career.

Residing in the nearby Dominion Creek community, he stated that this was the first time that they had ever been at this level, emphasizing the scarcity of flowing water.

Mayor Runtz's concerns extend beyond the lack of potable water for the village's inhabitants; he also fears the inadequacy of water for firefighting efforts. In preparation for possible emergencies, firefighters are exploring ways to access water from the Fraser River.

Sleeping Giant

The province of British Columbia continues to grapple with the aftermath of a prolonged period of hot, dry weather spanning spring, summer, and fall. River levels remain critically low, nearly half of the province's water basins continue to suffer the impacts of drought, and numerous wildfires persist, some buried deep within parched ground, as the worst fire season on record persists.

Despite some relief from sporadic rainfall, 11 of the province's 34 watersheds still maintain Level 4 or 5 drought conditions, signifying imminent or highly probable harm to ecosystems and human well-being, as reported by the British Columbia Drought Information Portal. The British Columbia government has consistently raised alarms about the dire drought conditions over several months.

Throughout the summer, provincial ministers, including Bowinn Ma and Bruce Ralston, called upon residents across the province to conserve water, emphasizing that drought conditions would endure well into the fall. Ma characterized this year's drought as a "sleeping giant of a natural disaster."