Metro Vancouver moving to Stage 2 water restrictions

In an effort to conserve drinking water during the ongoing drought, the Metro Vancouver Regional District is implementing Stage 2 water restrictions as of Aug. 4.

In a news release Friday, the regional district says the “continued high water demand and forecasted hot, dry weather” has initiated the increase in restrictions, which includes a total ban on lawn watering.

“Use of our treated drinking water remains higher than average, and with more hot weather on the horizon, we are taking this proactive step to ensure that our region’s 2.8 million residents will have enough drinking water for essential uses for the rest of the dry season,” said George Harvie, chair of Metro Vancouver.

Under Stage 2 water restrictions:

• All lawn watering is prohibited
• Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered by hand or using soaker hoses or drip irrigation at any time, or by using a sprinkler between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. any day
• Vegetable gardens can be watered at any time
• Aesthetic water features, such as fountains, cannot be filled or topped up
• Washing impermeable surfaces like driveways and sidewalks is prohibited except in limited circumstances

The district says it usually delivers one billion litres of treated drinking water to Vancouver residents each day, but that number can increase by more than 50 per cent during the summer months, largely, which it says is due to lawn watering and “other outdoor uses.”

The district points out that since the beginning of May, water usage in the region has been about 20 per cent higher than the same time last year. Daily water usage this year has been higher “every single day” compared to 2022, it said.

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“Consistent above-average temperatures combined with high water demand have put extra pressure on the water supply,” said Malcolm Brodie, chair of the region’s water committee. “Water conservation is imperative, and everyone must do their part. The number one thing residents can do is reduce their outdoor water use.”

The increase in restrictions comes as the province sees ongoing drought conditions.

In a provincial update Thursday, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma said while there may be the perception that recent cooler weather and showers have eased drought and wildfire challenges, “this is not the case.”

B.C. explains Vancouver has seen less than 40 per cent of its normal rainfall over the past three months.

“The recent rainfall we received is much welcomed but it wasn’t enough to have a meaningful impact on our drought conditions,” Ma explained.

The province says more than 25 per cent — 23 of 34 water basins — of the province is at either Level 4 or Level 5 — the latter suggesting “adverse impacts to socio-economic or ecosystem values are almost certain.”