Metro Vancouver says saving water for a rainy day is keeping the necessity of higher dams at bay.
The average amount of tap water used in July in Metro Vancouver was lower than the one-day record set four years ago, despite last month being rain free and mostly sunny.
"It appears that mornings-only lawn sprinkling regulations across the region have helped to reduce the demand for our high-quality drinking water in summer, when the demand for water soars during hot and sunny days," said Darrell Mussatto, Metro Vancouver's utilities committee chair, in a media release. "I express my thanks to residents and businesses of the region for not over-watering their lawns. If businesses and residents continue to conserve water, Metro Vancouver can push back the date when we have to build higher dams, bigger pumping stations and bigger water mains."
The regional district delivers about one billion litres of water each day to half of B.C.'s population.
"Wise water use all-year round will help minimize additional costs, for both taxpayers and the environment," Mussatto added.
During July, the average amount of water consumed was about 1.45 billion litres a day, with a peak demand of 1.6 billion on July 24.
Lawn sprinkling is only allowed from 4 to 9 a.m., for even-numbered residences on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and odd-numbered residences on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday until Sept. 30.
Metro Vancouver recommends people to water their lawns just one hour a week. There is no restriction on using tap water for watering flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees.
"One hour of lawn sprinkling each week is all that's needed for lawns to remain healthy," said Greg Moore, board chair, in the release. "Why waste our highquality water on lawns?" For more information, visit www.metrovancouver.org.
