Water Conservation
Stage 1 Water Conservation Rules Are In Effect
Lawn watering is limited to one day per week:
- Even-numbered addresses can water on Saturdays.
- Odd-numbered addresses can water on Sundays.
- Automatic watering is allowed between 5 and 7 am.
- Manual watering is allowed between 6 and 9 am.
Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 5:00 am and 9:00 am, or any time by hand or using drip irrigation.
Edible plants are exempt from restrictions.
All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.
For full details on the rules, see https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions.
While our area gets quite a bit of rainfall overall, the summer months see much less precipitation. In addition, water consumption goes way up at the same time, mostly for watering lawns. This combination causes reservoir levels to drop. Metro Vancouver provides a chart of reservoir levels (updated on Tuesdays from May 1 through Nov 1) that shows the severity of the problem. These factors make it necessary to introduce water conservation rules in the summer.
Water restrictions are introduced in four stages.
- Stage 1 is in effect from May 1 to October 15 every year.
- Stage 2 or greater restrictions eliminate all lawn watering and a few other things until the restrictions are lifted. These are imposed only if reservoir levels and inflows drop far enough to require them.
- This document shows what specific restrictions are in place for residential, business, and government entities at each water conservation stage, including details on watering plants other than lawns.
Lawn watering is a huge part of the increased water use that happens in the summer months. Conservation helps keep water available for other uses and reduces the need for additional – and expensive – infrastructure projects that would increase supply. And landscaping that reduces or eliminates lawns can often save substantial water. If you’re doing landscaping work, consider reducing the size of (or even eliminating entirely) your lawn.
Additional water conservation information is available from Metro Vancouver and the DNV. Metro Vancouver even has a water dashboard. The really curious might also like this chart showing the water inflow to the Capilano reservoir.