As the hot, dry weather continues with little relief on the horizon, Delta and Metro Vancouver are stepping up restrictions.
On Friday, Metro Vancouver moved to stage 2 water restrictions.
“We need to reduce our discretionary use of water including lawn sprinkling and washing cars,” said board chair Greg Moore. “Our reservoir levels need to be maintained for priority needs in our homes and businesses, and for community needs like fire protection.
“We are seeing record temperatures and there was virtually no rain in June when normally we have rain on about 12 days,” added Moore. “We all have to do our part and conserve water whenever possible, and that now includes only watering lawns once a week.”
Under stage 2, sprinkling is restricted to just one day a week between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Watering lawns is permitted in the morning but prohibited during evening hours when demand is highest for domestic uses like cooking, dish washing, laundry and showers. The increased restrictions apply to lawn sprinkling only and not to hand watering flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees.
Last month, Delta council moved to beef up enforcement around water restrictions with a bylaw amendment giving bylaw officers the power to issue tickets to those sprinkling outside their designated day and time.
The fine for watering outside the allotted day and time under stage 2 restrictions is $250.
The last time that Metro Vancouver implemented stage 2 watering restrictions were in 2003.
On Thursday, Delta upgraded the fire danger rating in the community from high to extreme. The extreme fire danger rating comes with an open burning ban for all areas in Delta, which includes a ban on campfires and open cooking (briquette and propane barbecues) in all parks until further notice.
Under the ban, smoking is also prohibited in Delta parks.
In a further move Monday, in light of the weather and air quality conditions, and the number of active forest fires throughout the province, Delta announced the closure of Watershed Park and the Delta Nature Reserve to the public until further notice.
Delta fire, police, park patrols and bylaw staff will be patrolling parks, beaches and Burns Bog access points to enforce burning bans and the park closures.
Anyone found violating the ban could face a $200 fine.
The Lower Mainland, including South Delta, was shrouded in a smoky haze Sunday and Monday as several forest fires burned around the region. Fires in the Sunshine Coast and Pemberton area, as well as one on Burnaby Mountain Sunday morning, pushed smoke into the Lower Mainland region Sunday and Monday. The smoke prompted Metro Vancouver to issue an air quality warning late Sunday due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter, due to the smoke. The smoke was predicted to begin to clear starting Monday afternoon with winds coming in off the ocean.
Metro Vancouver advised people with chronic underlying medical conditions to postpone strenuous exercise until the advisory is lifted.
"Staying indoors and in air-conditioned spaces helps to reduce fine particulate exposure. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have diabetes, and lung or heart disease."
Metro expected the advisory to be in place until "there is a change in the current weather."
Temperatures are expected to come down a bit in the coming day, but still remain in the mid-20s.
In light of the air quality advisory, the Corporation of Delta is encouraging residents to visit air-conditioned community centres to keep cool and avoid the smoke.
There are three seniors recreation centres in Delta offering free access — KinVillage Community Centre in Tsawwassen (5430 10 Ave.), McKee Seniors Recreation Centre in Ladner (5155 47 Ave.) and Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre in North Delta (11760 88 Ave.)
As well, families, adults and youth are encouraged to visit our indoor recreation centres and pools, including Ladner Leisure Centre, South Delta Recreation Centre, Sungod Recreation Centre and North Delta Recreation Centre.
For seniors and those who are vulnerable and are affected by the air quality and heat, and do not have transportation options to community facilities, call the Delta Police Department’s non-emergency line at 604-946-4411.
