STAGE 1 water restrictions will come into effect on September 1 throughout Metro Vancouver, allowing residents and businesses to water their lawns one morning per week.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, designated lawn watering days are determined by property address and type. Trees, shrubs, and flowers may be watered any day in the morning when using a sprinkler, or at any time when hand watered or using drip irrigation. Edible plants are exempt from the restrictions. Restrictions will remain in place until October 15.

Stage 1 Residential lawn watering allowed:

• Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays — automatic watering between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays — automatic watering between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., or any time by hand or using drip irrigation

Stage 1 Non-Residential lawn watering allowed:

• Even-numbered addresses: Mondays — automatic watering between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays — automatic watering between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and manual watering between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., or any time by hand or using drip irrigation

Under Stage 1, residents and businesses can also wash impermeable surfaces like driveways and patios without restrictions.

These restrictions do not apply to the use of rainwater, grey water, all forms of recycled water, or other sources of water outside the regional and municipal drinking water supply system. Member jurisdictions enforce watering restrictions through local bylaws.

The region can ease water restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 1 because reservoir levels are within the typical range for this time of year.

Find the full restrictions, as well as drinking water conservation tips, at itsalldrinkingwater.ca.

Weather, snowpack, water demand, and reservoir level information are published on Metro Vancouver’s website weekly.

Metro Vancouver ensures more than three million residents have high-quality drinking water every day. Working with member jurisdictions, Metro Vancouver manages a regional system of protected water supply areas, dams, treatment facilities, reservoirs, pump stations, and water mains to keep drinking water flowing reliably throughout the region.