Water Conservation

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. 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 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 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.

Additional water conservation information is available from Metro Vancouver and the DNV. The really curious might also like this chart showing the water inflow to the Capilano reservoir.