Metro Vancouver is tightening restrictions on water use, thanks to an unusually hot and dry summer.
Burnaby residents are forbidden from washing their driveways and sidewalks with water, and lawn sprinkling is only allowed once a week in the morning, when demand for water is lower.
“We need to reduce our discretionary use of water including lawn sprinkling and washing cars,” said Greg Moore, chair of Metro Vancouver’s board of directors. “Our reservoir levels need to be maintained for priority needs in our homes and businesses and for community needs like fire protection.”
People with even-numbered addresses can only water their lawns on Monday, from 4 to 9 a.m. Those with odd-numbered addresses can water on Thursday, also from 4 to 9 a.m. For non-residential properties, the even numbered addresses can water lawns from 1 to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, while odd-numbered can water on Tuesday, also from 1 to 6 a.m. The restrictions do not apply to watering flowers, vegetables, gardens and shrubs.
Metro Vancouver typically enacts water restrictions from June to September, but cities are responsible for enforcement. Phase 1 of the water restrictions, which limited lawn sprinkling to three times a week at designated times, ran from June 1 to July 2. During that period, the City of Burnaby received more than 100 complaints about people violating the restrictions but issued no tickets. Instead, people received up to two warning letters. During Phase 2, violators will receive only one warning letter, followed by a $50 fine if caught in the act.
