Seasonal water restrictions start Monday (May 1) for Tri-Cities homeowners.
This means, during Stage 1 across Metro Vancouver (MVRD), watering of plants, gardens, lawns and yards will be limited to specific times and dates between then and Oct. 15.
The annual implementation is being enforced to conserve drinking water for any upcoming hot and/or dry days during the warmer months.
George Harvie, chair of Metro Vancouver's board of directors, said the region can't always rely on rainfall to help preserve water supply.
Restrictions are based on address and property type, according to the MVRD, so homes in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody can water their shrubbery, trees and flowers with a sprinkler.
Hand watering, however, is permitted at any time and edible plants are exempt from the restrictions.
The MVRD Stage 1 watering restrictions are as follows (see graph below, too):
Residential
- Even-numbered addresses
- Saturdays — automatic watering between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Odd-numbered addresses
- Sundays — automatic watering between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., or any time by hand or using drip irrigation
Non-residential
- Even-numbered addresses
- Mondays — automatic watering between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Odd-numbered addresses
- Tuesdays — automatic watering between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., or any time by hand or using drip irrigation
Should dry, hot conditions persist, Metro Vancouver warns it could initiate Stage 2 restrictions, which ban lawn watering.
Coquitlam residents could face fines up to $500 if caught watering outside the restricted timeslots, under the city's drinking water conservation plan bylaw.
Tips to save on water usage include:
- One hour a week of watering or rain is all you need for a healthy lawn.
- Let your lawn turn gold in the summer
- Grasses naturally go dormant during the hot, dry summer and will turn green again in the fall when heavy dews and rain return
- Mow your lawn about six centimetres high and leave the grass clippings on the lawn to keep it cool and moist
- Check out Metro Vancouver's Grow Green Guide or ask a local garden centre about planting native and drought-tolerant species
- Consider sweeping instead of using water to wash outdoor surfaces
- Wash your vehicle using a bucket of water and make sure the hose is fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle
- Fill up pools and hot tubs before the restrictions start on May 1
- Cover them when they are not in use to prevent evaporation and to keep them clean
More information on water restriction in Tri-Cities municipalities can be found on their respective websites:
- with files from Stefan Labbé, Glacier Media
