Metro Vancouver Stage 3 Water Restrictions

editor's note:  the following affects golf courses, sportsfields and parks as well as residential and commercial watering.  Stage 3 has been in effect for just over 3 weeks now but we've been told that not everyone is aware.

Stage 3 Lawn Sprinkling Regulations are effective July 20

Due to unseasonably dry and hot weather, and record low inflows to our reservoirs, Metro Vancouver has further restricted water use.

ALL LAWN SPRINKLING IS NOW PROHIBITED.

Stage 3 Prohibitions

•Lawn sprinkling is prohibited;
•Municipal exemption permits for new‐lawns or nematode application are prohibited;
•Watering of trees, shrubs, flowers, decorative planters and vegetable gardens by sprinklers or soaker hoses is prohibited;
• Private pressure washing is prohibited;
•Washing of driveways, sidewalks and parkades for aesthetic purposes is prohibited;
•Washing of all cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and other recreational and vehicles is prohibited;
•Golf course fairway watering is prohibited;
•Cemetery lawns - all forms of watering are prohibited;
•Municipal parks - all forms of watering are prohibited;
•Operation of ornamental fountains is prohibited;
•Filling or refilling of private swimming pools, hot tubs and garden ponds is prohibited.

Stage 3 Permitted Uses

•Hand watering of trees, shrubs, flowers, decorative planters and vegetable gardens using a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle, containers or a drip irrigation system is permitted;
•Watering of turf at turf farms or flowers and vegetables at commercial gardens is permitted.
•Hosing of outdoor surfaces (e.g. driveways, sidewalks, roofs) if required to avoid public health and safety concerns or to prepare a surface for painting/sealing or similar treatment is permitted;
•Commercial pressure washing for health and safety purposes or to prepare surface for painting or similar purposes is permitted;
•Commercial car wash operations are permitted;
•Golf course watering of greens and tee areas at minimum levels required to maintain areas in useable condition is permitted;
• Sports playing field (including sand-based) and school yard watering at minimum levels as required to maintain areas in useable condition is permitted;
•Artificial turf requiring wetting and outdoor tracks if required for dust control or safety reasons is permitted.

What else can you do?

•Work with nature and let your lawn go dormant (brown) over the summer. It’ll ‘green up’ again when it starts raining in the fall.
•Leave grass clippings on your lawn. They’ll help trap moisture to reduce evaporation and break down to feed your lawn naturally.