Metro Vancouver drinking water supply recovering after dry summer, district says

The rainy season is here, and while it might be getting grey and gloomy outside, it has had a positive impact on the region’s supply of drinking water.

Linda Parkinson with the Metro Vancouver Regional District says the recent precipitation has helped fill the region’s reservoirs slightly. She adds the season has also seen lessened demand, bringing usage back to a normal range for this time of year.

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Water restrictions are set to be lifted on Oct. 15, but Parkinson says it’s still a good idea to work water conservation practices into your day-to-day life.

“Be mindful of where you’re using this really high-quality water,” she said.

“We want to keep it so that everyone has enough to drink and to cook and to clean, but excessive outdoor use is something that’s prevalent in this region and something that we can all control.”

That means cutting down on things like unnecessarily watering your lawn, washing your car, or hosing down your driveway, she says.

The regional district enacted Stage 2 water restrictions on Aug. 4, which included a ban on lawn watering and tighter regulation around use for residents and businesses.