STAGE
2 Water Restrictions
Lawn Watering
Prohibited as of August 4
As of May 1, Stage 2 water restrictions are in effect for the Metro Vancouver region, which means all residential and non-residential lawn watering is banned. With hot and dry weather in the long-range forecast, we need to make sure we use treated water where we need it most — drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
Stage 2 water restrictions in effect May 1
Residential
Lawn watering is prohibited
Watering trees, shrubs, and flowers is permitted any day from 5:00 am to 9:00 am if using an automatic or manual sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Vegetable gardens can be watered any time.
Non-residential
Lawn watering is prohibited
Watering trees, shrubs, and flowers is permitted any day from 4:00 am to 9:00 am if using an automatic or manual sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Vegetable gardens can be watered any time.
Lawn watering restrictions are in effect May 1 to October 15
See the full
water restrictions for Stage 2. These restrictions do not apply to the use of rainwater, gray water, any forms of recycled water, or other sources of water outside the GVWD/municipal water supply system.
Temporary restrictions for summer 2026
Stage 2 water restrictions are in effect across the Metro Vancouver region beginning May 1. Stage 3 water restrictions are expected to begin in early June. Stage 3 includes stronger limits on outdoor water use during the summer, when water demand is usually highest.
These temporary restrictions are being introduced because several factors are creating added pressure on the regional water system, including dry conditions, low snowpack, and forecasts for a dry summer. One of two main crossings that carries drinking water from the North Shore mountains into the regional water system is also temporarily offline while Metro Vancouver builds new infrastructure for the
Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel. While this crossing is offline, the system has less flexibility during periods of very high water use.
Reducing outdoor water use now will help protect the reliable delivery of high-quality drinking water for essential household, business, firefighting, and emergency needs.
Metro Vancouver will continue to monitor weather, reservoir levels, regional water demand, system performance, and progress on the Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel work. Updates will be posted on this page as conditions change.
About regional drinking water conservation
Metro Vancouver stores, treats, and delivers drinking water through its member jurisdictions to more than 3 million people in the region. Water conservation is a major part of Metro Vancouver's planning to support the sustainable use of water resources.
Helping residents, businesses, schools, and member jurisdictions use only the water they need helps support an efficient and relatively cost-effective water system. Find out more about Metro Vancouver's
Drinking Water Conservation Plan.
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