Metro Vancouver’s Drinking Water Conservation Plan (DWCP) is a regional policy developed with local governments and other stakeholders to manage the use of drinking water during periods of high demand, mostly during late spring to early fall, and during periods of water shortages and emergencies. The DWCP helps ensure our collective needs for drinking water are met affordably and sustainably now, and in the future.
The DWCP applies only to local government members of the GVWD and the use of drinking water from the GVWD’s water system. Jurisdictions that are not local government members of the GVWD are encouraged to follow the restrictions in the plan to help conserve drinking water and demonstrate leadership and consistency to water users across the region. The DWCP restrictions do not apply to the use of rain water, grey water, any forms of recycled water, or water from sources outside the GVWD water system.
In most cases, the stages of the plan will be activated in successive order, but they can also be activated immediately in any order.
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 and 3 | Stage 4 |
|---|
Stage 1 reduces demand in summer months, and is automatically in effect on May 1 until October 15. | Stages 2 and 3, activated and deactivated by the GVWD Commissioner, are likely to be activated during unusually hot and dry conditions to maximize conservation. | Stage 4 is activated and deactivated by the GVWD Commissioner during an emergency to immediately limit water use to essential needs only.
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| Drinking Water Conservation Plan | https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/Documents/drinking-water-conservation-plan.pdf, Drinking Water Conservation Plan | Drinking Water Conservation Plan | |
A summarized list of water use regulations for homes, businesses, governments and schools for Stages 1 to 4 is available in the Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary document.
| Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary | https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/Documents/drinking-water-conservation-plan-summary.pdf, Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary | Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary | |
| Residential Lawns
| Trees, Shrubs and Flowers
| Vegetable Gardens
|
|---|
|
Stage 1
May 1 - October 15
|
Even address
Saturday
Odd Address
Sunday
Automatic Watering
5 am - 7am
Manual Watering 6am - 9 am | Hand Watering Soaker Hose or Drip Irrigation
Anytime
| Sprinklers
Any day
5 am - 9 am | Anytime
|
Stage 2
|
Lawn Watering Prohibited
| Hand Watering Soaker Hose or Drip Irrigation
Anytime
| Sprinklers
Any day
5 am - 9 am
| Anytime
|
Stage 3
|
Lawn Watering Prohibited
|
Sprinklers and Soaker Hoses Prohibited
| Hand Watering or Drip Irrigation
Anytime
| Anytime
|
| Stage 4 |
All activities prohibited in emergency Stage 4.
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