Anyone with a lawn in Metro Vancouver will have to watch when they water their grass starting May 1.
The City of Vancouver is reminding residents it's a $250 fine if they don't follow the rules set out across the region in an effort to conserve drinking water.
The regional government's regulations set Stage 1 restrictions to start May 1.
Stage 1 Residential lawn watering allowed:
- Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays — automatic watering between 5 and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 and 9 a.m.
- Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays — automatic watering between 5 and 7a.m., and manual watering between 6 and 9 a.m.
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 5 and 9 a.m., or any time by hand or using drip irrigation.
Stage 1 Non-residential lawn watering allowed:
- Even-numbered addresses: Mondays — automatic watering between 4 and 6 a.m., and manual watering between 6 and 9 a.m.
- Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays — automatic watering between 4 and 6 a.m., and manual watering between 6 and 9 a.m.
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 4 and 9 a.m., or any time by hand or using drip irrigation.
The city notes that brown lawns aren't necessarily dead, but may be dormant. Edible plants are exempt from the regulations.
Vancouver water situation
The city notes that the water situation in Vancouver is already low.
While reservoirs are currently full, it may be difficult to fill them later in the year.
"There will be less opportunity for those reservoirs to be replenished by snow melt with the early April snowpack at 56 per cent of the historical average, and spring and summer forecasts calling for prolonged periods with little rain and above-average temperatures," states the city in a media release.
In the summer months, Metro Vancouver sees a 50 per cent increase in drinking water use, the city notes on its website. Most of that increase is attributed to lawns.
