Vancouver issues more fines for water restriction violations

Bylaw officers around Vancouver have been busy handing out fines to people disobeying watering restrictions.

According to the city, as of Sept. 3, officers have handed out 152 tickets since restrictions were ramped up to Stage 2 on Aug. 4, which includes a ban on lawn watering.

In total, from May 1 to Sept. 3, the city says 496 tickets were issued, in addition to 732 warnings handed out. Of those warnings, 527 were before Aug. 4 for Stage 1 violations, while 205 were after Aug. 4 for Stage 2 violations.

“In Vancouver, residents and businesses are required by law to comply with water restrictions and guidelines as set out by Bylaw No. 12086,” the city says in an email.

Related articles: 

• B.C. drought ‘a sleeping giant of a natural disaster’: province

• Metro Vancouver residents continue to water lawns despite Stage 2 restrictions, district says

• Lower Mainland ‘ugly lawn’ contests promote water conservation

It adds the city’s Waterworks department has “a robust and active enforcement program,” noting bylaw officers conduct patrols and follow-ups on “potential violations reported by the public.”

Violation tickets under Stage 2 restrictions can cost $500 each. Violations under Stage 1 could result in a $250 ticket.

“Any watering outside of permitted hours witnessed by a bylaw officer results in a ticket with a fine,” the city explains. “Warnings are issued when there is some indication of watering outside of hours (i.e. damp lawn, watermarks on sidewalk/roadway) but the violation is not actively witnessed by the officer or the evidence is not substantial.”

Stage 2 watering restrictions remain in effect across the Lower Mainland as much of B.C. continues to experience severe drought conditions.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma called the situation “a sleeping giant of a natural disaster.”

“I want to emphasize how significant the drought that British Columbia is facing is right now. It is unlike any kind of drought conditions the province has ever faced,” she said.

The province is urging people across B.C. to do what they can to help conserve water. Ma says it’s critical B.C. receive the right amount of rain this fall ahead of the winter freeze.

-With files from Mike Lloyd