With summer at the doorstep, Metro Vancouver says it's time to save water for a rainy day.
In an effort to conserve high-quality drinking water in the summer, mornings-only lawn sprinkling regulations are now in effect, ending on Sept. 30.
"One hour of lawn sprinkling each week is all that's needed for lawns to remain healthy," said Metro Vancouver board chair Greg Moore in a media release.
During the hottest days, water use doubles to as much as two billion litres of water a day, according to the release. One lawn sprinkler uses as much water in one hour as 25 toilet flushes, five loads of laundry and five dishwasher loads.
Starting June 1, lawn sprinkling is only permitted from 4 to 9 a.m. for even-numbered resident addresses on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday, and for odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday.
The restrictions don't apply to watering flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees.
Metro Vancouver also recommends watering lawns for a maximum of one hour a week.
"Some residents collect rainwater in rain barrels and use that non-potable water for lawns and gardens," the release states. "And many are choosing not to put drinking water on their lawns."
For more on water conservation, visit www.metrovancouver.org and click on the water treatment and supply link.
