Vancouver approves bylaw to cut down on summer lawn watering

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VANCOUVER – Despite an unusually wet April, the City of Vancouver is looking ahead to the parched days of summer as it announces new watering restrictions which begin May 1.

The city says councillors have approved a new bylaw that aligns with Metro Vancouver‘s water conservation plan and cuts permitted lawn and garden watering to two days a week from three days.

Homes with even-numbered addresses will be allowed to water between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays while homes with odd-numbered addresses can water at those times on Thursdays and Sundays.

All non-residential properties will be permitted to water at those times on Friday, while businesses can water between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. on either Monday or Tuesday depending on whether the address is even or odd.

“There is increasing pressure on our regional water supply from growing population and climate change. Seasonal watering restrictions help us ensure we prioritize our treated drinking water for where it is needed most — cooking, cleaning, and drinking,” explains Daniel Roberge, director of Water, Sewer and Green Infrastructure. “Fewer watering days still allow for healthy landscapes and will help us make sure we have enough water to last through the dry summer months. As we reduce our per-person use of treated drinking water, we can potentially defer the need for expensive infrastructure expansion.”

Anyone caught breaking the rules could face fines of between $250 to $1,000.

Water restrictions will be lifted on Oct. 15 across the region.

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