This past summer’s water restrictions proved costly to a dozen Burnaby residents who didn’t want to follow the rules.
The city’s environmental services division handed out 12 tickets to people not following the water restrictions this summer.
The city has increased the water restriction fines.
The flat fine of $50 for watering outside of designated areas has been eliminated and replaced with fines based on each of the four stages of water restrictions.
For example, watering outside designated times during Stage 1 carries a $150 penalty, while Stage 2 and Stage 3 have $250 and $350 fines, respectively. Should Burnaby reach Stage 4, prohibited watering could mean a $500 ticket.
The dry and hot weather forced Metro Vancouver to enact Stage 3 water restrictions.
The city is currently in Stage 1 of water restrictions until Oct. 15.
That means residential lawn sprinkling allowed on even-numbered addresses Monday, Wednesday, Saturday mornings 4 to 9 a.m. and odd-numbered addresses Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday mornings 4 to 9 a.m.
Counting storm costs
While summer 2015 will be remembered mostly for the dry weather, it will also be thought of for the big windstorm.
Deputy city manager Lambert Chu noted staff are preparing a report to council on the storm event, which will include information on the cost incurred by the city as a result of the storm.
He added work is still being carried out to clear and remove fallen trees and therefore, the cost information has not been finalized. It will be reported to council later this month.
The Aug. 29 windstorm downed trees and cut power to 50,000 customers in Burnaby.
