Our water use can increase by 50% in summer and early fall, for swimming pools, growing food, maintaining sports fields and other social and community-building uses. But a lot is also used to green our lawns, wash our decks or driveways and other lower-priority uses. The region-wide watering regulations are an effective way to help us use our drinking water wisely.
Metro Vancouver has updated the Water Shortage Response Plan with a new plan, called the
Drinking Water Conservation Plan, active as of May 1, 2018.
It includes changes to the water use regulations, and largely impacts the watering of lawns and gardens, playing fields and golf courses, and the operation of commercial car washes and pools.
Lawn Watering Regulations are in effect May 1 to October 15
Stage 1 Residential lawn Watering allowed:
Even-numbered addresses Wednesday, Saturday mornings 4 am to 9 am
Odd-numbered addresses Thursday, Sunday mornings 4 am to 9 am
Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 4 am to 9 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.
Stage 1 Non-residential lawn Watering allowed:
Even-numbered addresses Monday mornings 1 am to 6 am and Friday mornings, 4 am to 9 am
Odd-numbered addresses Tuesday mornings 1 am to 6 am and Friday mornings, 4 am to 9 am
Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 1 am to 9 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.
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Municipal contact information for enforcement and watering regulations
|
Contact |
Municipality |
Number |
|---|
| General Enquiries | Anmore | 604-469-9877 |
| General Enquiries | Belcarra | 604-937-4100 |
| Engineering | Burnaby | 604-293-6528 |
| Engineering & Public Works | Coquitlam | 604-927-3500 |
| General Enquiries | Delta | 604-946-4141 |
| General Enquiries | UEL | 604-660-1808 |
| Engineering | Langley City | 604-514-2997 |
| Engineering | Langley Township | 604-533-6006 |
| Operations | Maple Ridge | 604-463-9581 |
| Engineering Operations | New Westminster | 604-526-4691 |
| Engineering, Parks & Environment | North Vancouver City | 604-983-7333 |
| General Enquiries | North Vancouver District | 604-990-2311 |
| Bylaw Enforcement | Pitt Meadows | 604-465-2445 |
| Engineering | Port Coquitlam | 604-927-5420 |
| Bylaw Enforcement | Port Moody | 604-469-4697 |
| Lawn Watering Regulation Information and Complaints | Richmond | 604-276-4355 |
| By-law Call Centre (active violations) | Surrey | 604-591-4370 |
| Engineering Department (past violations, general information) | Surrey | 604-591-4340 |
| General Enquiries | Tsawwassen First Nation | 604-943-2112 |
| General Enquiries | Vancouver | 604-873-7000 |
| Engineering | West Vancouver | 604-925-7020 |
|
Other municipalities that don't receive Metro Vancouver water |
| | Bowen Island | 604-947-4255 |
| | Lions Bay | 604-921-9333 |
| City of White Rock | White Rock | 604-541-2181 |
The full 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.
These restrictions do not apply to the use of rain water, gray water, any forms of recycled water, or other sources of water outside the GVWD/municipal water supply system.
An hour of rain or watering per week is all the water you need for a healthy lawn. Find more information about how to maintain a healthy lawn throughout the year, while following the lawn watering regulations, with Metro Vancouver's
lawn care guide.
A healthy lawn is the best defence against chafer beetle, an invasive insect that has damaged lawns throughout the region.
Learn more about chafer beetle and how to treat it within the lawn watering regulations.
