The average amount of tap water delivered by Metro Vancouver each day in July was far lower than the one-day record set four years ago, although last month was rain-free and mostly sunny.
During the fall, winter and spring, the regional district delivers about one billion litres of water each day to the urban region with half of British Columbia's population.
On July 30, 2009, Metro Vancouver experienced its highest ever daily demand on the regional water supply system.
Just over two billion litres of tap water were used that day.
During July 2013, the average amount of water consumed was about 1.45 billion litres a day with a peak demand of 1.6 billion litres on July 24.
"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, chair of Metro Vancouver's Utilities Committee.
"I express my thanks to residents and businesses of the region for not overwatering 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. Wise water use all year round will help minimize additional costs, for both taxpayers and the environment."
Lawn sprinkling is only permitted before 9 a.m. in the morning, at the following times and days of the week: · Even numbered residential addresses - Monday, Wednesday or Saturday mornings, between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. · Odd numbered residential addresses -Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday mornings, between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Mornings-only lawn sprinkling regulations came into effect on June 1. They continue to Sept. 30.
Lawn sprinkling is not permitted during evenings, when the demand for water for dishwashers, clothes washing, showers and other domestic uses is at its daily peak.
Metro Vancouver recommends that people water their lawns a maximum of just one hour a week. And many are choosing not to put drinking water on their lawns. After a few days of rain and cloudy skies, a yellow lawn greens up again. There are no restrictions of use of tap water for the watering of flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees. "One hour of lawn sprinkling each week is all that's needed for lawns to remain healthy," said board chair
Greg Moore. "Why waste our high-quality drinking water on lawns?" Many municipalities offer useful outdoor and indoor water conservation kits. Please contact your municipality to purchase one.
More information water and other regional services is available on Metro
Vancouver's website, www.metrovancouver.org.
Contact your municipality if you want to learn more about lawn sprinkling regulations.
