Groundwater Conservation Brochure

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Groundwater:  
Our Shared 
Responsibility!
Less is More
Consider alternative technologies  
for efficient water use at home.
Professionally installed flow monitors  
tell you if you’re using more water than 
you have by measuring the amount and 
rate of flow of water into your well.  
Data loggers help you identify water level 
changes over time and provide an early 
warning signal when levels are critically 
low. 
Well pump timers, when used with a  
cistern, let you set pump intervals to 
slowly draw water out of your well at 
pre-set times for future use. These 
devices help people with low-producing 
wells maximize the amount of water  
from a well, without overdrawing it.
Rainwater harvesting is a way to collect 
and use water for your plants, outdoor 
cleaning, and even for household use 
and drinking. The Regional District of 
Nanaimo has a comprehensive rain  
harvesting guide on their website:  
rdn.bc.ca.

Get your water tested 
regularly to ensure it 
is safe to drink.
Learn more about water conservation at  
islandstrust.bc.ca/water
Or contact us by email  
information@islandstrust.bc.ca
Islanders are already doing a lot to conserve 
groundwater supplies and protect aquifer water 
quality. Share water conservation ideas with your 
friends and visitors.

Did you know?  
Many native plants 
are drought tolerant 
and provide food for  
butterflies, insects  
and birds.
Outside the home
Gardening 
Plant drought-resistant species, landscape with 
native plants and use mulch to retain soil moisture. 
Water early in the morning. Water the plant roots 
instead of the leaves.
Lawns 
Let your grass go golden in the summertime —  
it will go green again in the fall.
Raingardens 
Visit crd.bc.ca/education to learn how you can 
build these landscape features that collect water  
and recharge groundwater aquifers.
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Greywater recycling systems can relieve 
demand on your well, cistern, and septic 
systems. Low-risk greywater systems 
collect water from sinks, laundry, showers,  
and bathtubs for re-use in toilets and 
landscaping. Contact your local building 
inspector and health authority for more 
information.
Composting toilets may be acceptable as 
an “alternative solution” in some cases  
if the toilet and greywater treatment 
comply with provincial regulations. 
Contact your local health authority 
before considering this option.
Islands Trust acknowledges that the islands and  
waters that encompass the Salish Sea have been home 
to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial.  
We recognize that we are all connected with the lands, 
waters, culture, and ecology that embody this place.
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Groundwater:  
A Precious Resource
Groundwater is one of the most valuable 
resources on the islands.
Island groundwater begins as rain and snow and 
makes its way through the trees and plants to 
enter the soil and fractures in the bedrock,  
ending in sandy-gravel aquifers. Groundwater is 
a renewable, but limited re

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