The Metro Vancouver region – that includes us here on the North Shore – experiences a 50% increase in potable water use, attributed primarily to lawn watering, during summer months.
Did You Know? Last year’s ‘heat dome’ led to 1.795 billion litres (yes, that’s billion with a ‘b’!) of potable (drinkable) water used in one day across our region.
Our drinking water comes from rain and snowmelt collected in the Capilano, Seymour, and Coquitlam watersheds. With population growth and climate change, there is increasing pressure on our water supply. Water restrictions help to make sure we have enough treated drinking water for everyone during the summer months.
As of May 1st, 2022, new rules were put in place regarding water use. The ‘Readers’ Digest Condensed Version’ is … the new rules allow lawn watering to one day per week for residential and non-residential lawn watering. In addition, allowable hours of lawn watering have been limited to three hours for manual watering and two hours for automatic systems. Under the updated Stage 2 restrictions lawn watering is banned.
Stage 1 Residential lawn Watering allowed:
Even-numbered addresses on Saturdays
Odd-numbered addresses on Sundays
- Automatic watering: 5 am – 7 am
- Manual watering: 6 am – 9 am
Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day from 5 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.
Edible plants are exempt from regulations
Stage 1 Non-residential lawn Watering allowed:
Even-numbered addresses on Mondays
Odd-numbered addresses on Tuesdays
- Automatic watering: 4 am – 6 am
- Manual watering: 6 am – 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.
Edible plants are exempt from regulations
For the full list of water use regulations for homes, businesses, governments and schools for Stages 1 to 4 check out the: