Starting on May 1, seasonal regulations go into effect limiting lawn watering to one day per week for Vancouver homes and businesses.
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These watering restrictions remain in place until October 15 and help conserve drinking water during our hotter, drier months.
Watering outside these times could result in a $250 fine.
Even with watering restrictions, regional water use almost doubles in the summer due to lawn and garden watering.
Last year, watering restrictions were enhanced across Metro Vancouver due to more unpredictable weather patterns and snow melt from climate change, and to secure an ongoing supply of the region’s drinking water.
Lawns in Vancouver generally need only one inch of water for one hour each week, including rainfall, to stay healthy and green. Lawns can also go ‘golden’ if not watered as they enter a dormant state and return lush in the fall during rain.
Residents can check their permitted watering through the Van311 app or online.
Stage 1 Residential lawn watering allowed:
• Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays — automatic watering between 5am and 7am, and manual watering between 6am and 9am.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays — automatic watering between 5am and 7am, and manual watering between 6am and 9am.
• Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 5am and 9am, or any time by hand or using drip irrigation.
Stage 1 Non-residential lawn watering allowed:
• Even-numbered addresses: Mondays — automatic watering between 4am and 6am, and manual watering between 6am and 9am.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays — automatic watering between 4am and 6am, and manual watering between 6am and 9am.
• Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 4am and 9am, or any time by hand or using drip irrigation.
These restrictions help ensure there is enough treated drinking water for essential tasks like cooking, cleaning, and drinking during the dry summer months.
With summer demand for drinking water increasing, and fewer rainy days, the region is becoming more susceptible to droughts and less available drinking water each year. ■