Metro-Vancouver Adds Further Restrictions to Drinking Water Conservation Plan

Via email from Lucas Pitts, P. Eng., PMP, MESc, MPA
Director, Policy, Planning and Analysis (Acting)

At the October 29, 2021 meeting of the Metro Vancouver Board, changes to the Drinking Water Conservation Plan (DWCP) were approved including reducing lawn watering to one day per week during Stage 1, with a complete ban on lawn watering in Stage 2. 

Purpose of the DWCP

The DWCP is a regional plan that promotes water conservation and manages how residents, businesses, and member jurisdictions use drinking water during periods of high demand — mostly during late spring to early fall — as well as during water shortages and emergencies. It is implemented through member jurisdictions’ bylaws and each member is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the restrictions in their communities. 

Purpose of Updating the DWCP 

As you know this past summer our region experienced a record-breaking heatwave that resulted in unprecedented sustained high water use. Our daily water consumption hit 1.79 billion litres on June 27, just shy of the 2 billion litre all-time high set in 2009. The region also experienced sustained high water use above 1.5 billion litres per day, for 40 days, compared to the average of only 15 days during a typical summer. This summer, we were fortunate that we could meet these high water demands due to the high snow pack, which we can’t rely on every year. 

The heatwave highlighted the reality of the climate emergency and changing weather conditions, and the need for more proactive measures to secure the water supply. The long-range climate projections show that our region can expect longer summer dry spells and decreased winter snowpack, limiting summer water availability. Reduced lawn watering has been the most effective way to reduce seasonal demand for water and save treated drinking water for where it is needed most: for cooking, cleaning, and drinking during the dry summer months. With healthy lawns requiring only 1 hour of watering or rain per week, Metro Vancouver decided to update the DWCP to reduce lawn watering from two days to one day per week to reduce overall and seasonal demand for water. 

DWCP Changes 

New Stage 1 lawn watering periods:
•  Residential:
    Even-numbered addresses on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays:
      o  Automatic watering – from 5 am to 7 am
      o  Manual watering – from 6 am to 9 am
•  Non-residential:
    Even-numbered addresses on Mondays and odd-numbered addresses on Tuesdays:
      o  Automatic watering – from 4 am to 6 am
      o  Manual watering – from 6 am to 9 am

The proposed changes, combined with a strong education and enforcement program, will help reduce seasonal water demand and offer a number of regional benefits, including financial savings, potential deferral of major infrastructure projects, greenhouse gas reductions and operational flexibility for environmental flows.

Metro Vancouver Resources and Next Steps 

Metro Vancouver will be promoting this change with a robust communication plan to ensure widespread public notification of the changes to be implemented as of May 1, 2022. As a first step, we have updated our DWCP webpage and communication materials (e.g. DWCP summary document) on the Metro Vancouver’s website on November 1, which is the date the plan became effective. 

In the next coming days and months we will:
•  Promote changes through a digital campaign running in November 2021 to encourage good water habits. The campaign will focus on changes to lawn watering regulations, including steps residents can take in the fall and winter to prepare their lawns for spring
•  Update education/enforcement communication materials to share with you and our member jurisdictions to ensure consistent messaging
•  Promote DWCP updates through a campaign in March and April 2022 leading up to the May 1 start date

We will provide and share updated communication and education materials with you as we get closer to the next season leading to the May 1 implementation date.   

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments and if you would like to meet with me and my team regarding these recent updates. 

Regards,

Andy Dhaliwal on behalf of Lucas Pitts

Lucas Pitts, P. Eng., PMP, MESc, MPA
Director, Policy, Planning and Analysis (Acting)
Water Services
604.216.3208 (o) 
604.218.9276 (c)