Water-use restrictions in effect June 1 for Burnaby

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 will come into effect on June 1 and end 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. "Why use high-quality drinking water on lawns?"

During the hottest summer 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.

"If businesses and residents continue to conserve water during the summer, Metro Vancouver can push back the date when we have to build higher dams, bigger pumping stations and bigger water mains," said Darrell Mussatto, Metro Vancouver's utilities committee chair, in the media release. "Wise water use will help minimize additional costs, for both taxpayers and the environment."

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 information about water conservation, visit www.metrovancouver.org and click on the water treatment and supply link.