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Stage 3 water restrictions begin June 8 — lawn watering is banned and additional restrictions are in place for watering trees/shrubs/flowers and washing surfaces/cars/boats. See full restrictions.
Whether tap or hose, it’s all drinking water.
Save treated drinking water for where it is needed most: drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
Water use changes with the seasons
With all the rainfall in Metro Vancouver, conserving water might not be top of mind, but it matters more than you may think.
Although fall and winter bring the most rain, water demand peaks in the dry spring and summer months. Our region uses an average of 1 billion litres of water per day, rising to about 1.5 billion litres per day during hot, dry summer conditions. Outdoor water use – particularly lawn watering – accounts for about 60 per cent of this increased summer demand.
Metro Vancouverites use about 270 litres of drinking water per person per day. When you factor in commercial uses, such as running local businesses, institutions, and public facilities, the average use is about 450 litres per person per day.
By keeping conservation in mind year-round, we can continue to meet demand in any season. Get simple tips to use less water around the home.
Managing water for future generations
As more people move to the region, using less water can help delay the need to build costly new infrastructure.
We must also prepare for changes to rainfall and snowpack due to climate change. In Metro Vancouver, warmer annual temperatures and longer dry spells, combined with reductions in snowpack and earlier spring melt, could put a strain on the existing water supply during times of the year when water is in greatest demand.
Our drinking water is a valuable resource, essential to our lives and our natural environment. And together, we can use it wisely to ensure we meet our needs and those of future generations.