Yes, it’s weird to be thinking of water shortages while it’s still raining, but no, you can’t just water your lawn anytime you want.
Metro Vancouver’s lawn watering regulations came into effect on May 1 and remain in place until Oct. 15, to conserve treated drinking water during the hot and dry summer months.
The Stage 1 regulations are being activated two weeks earlier than last year, as part of Metro Vancouver’s new Drinking Water Conservation Plan.
Residents can water their lawn two mornings per week, down from three, with additional adjustments related to watering trees, shrubs and flowers with a sprinkler. An hour of rain or watering per week is all the water you need for a healthy lawn.
“Water conservation is not just about water shortages – it’s imperative that we use water wisely all year round, both indoors and outdoors,” said Darrell Mussatto, chair of Metro Vancouver’s Utilities Committee, in a news release. “With a growing population and the effects of climate change, conserving water every day is the right thing to do.”
Recent snowpack surveys conducted in the Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam watersheds in March 2018 found that both the depth and water equivalent of the current snowpack are more than 120 per cent of the historical average for this time of year.
While snowpack is important, Metro Vancouver’s drinking water supply does not solely depend on it – cumulative precipitation contributes to the water levels in the three reservoirs that supply our drinking water.
Local governments throughout Metro Vancouver enforce the lawn watering restrictions through local bylaw regulations.
STAGE 1 RESIDENTIAL LAWN WATERING ALLOWED:
* Even-numbered addresses Wednesday, Saturday mornings 4 am to 9 am
* Odd-numbered addresses Thursday, Sunday mornings 4 am to 9 am
* Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 4 am to 9 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.
STAGE 1 NON-RESIDENTIAL LAWN WATERING ALLOWED:
* Even-numbered addresses Monday mornings 1 am to 6 am and Friday mornings, 4 am to 9 am
* Odd-numbered addresses Tuesday mornings 1 am to 6 am and Friday mornings, 4 am to 9 am
* Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 1 am to 9 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.
Watering exemption permits for European Chafer Beetle are available from your municipality, and are required in order to water outside of the regulations.
