Water restrictions in effect starting May 1 – all residential and non-residential lawn watering to be prohibited

As of May 1, 2026, Stage 2 water restrictions will be in effect for the Metro Vancouver region, including Port Moody. This means all residential and non-residential lawn watering will be banned. With hot and dry weather in the long-range forecast, we need to make sure we’re using treated water where it’s needed most — for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

Whether it’s from a tap or a hose, it’s all drinking water – let’s use the region’s supply wisely. Water restrictions are in effect annually from May 1 through October 15. Stages range from 1 through 4 depending on the level needed to ensure reliable water distribution throughout peak periods. 

During Stage 2, topping up or filling aesthetic water features is also banned. Washing impermeable surfaces (e.g. power washing decks or house siding) is prohibited with exceptions (i.e. a health or safety reason, preparing a surface for painting or similar treatment, or aesthetic cleaning by a commercial cleaning operation). 

You may continue to:

• water trees, shrubs, and flowers between 5am and 9am if using an automatic or manual sprinkler, or at any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation (hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle);
• top up or fill pools or hot tubs; and
• wash vehicles and boats.

Visit portmoody.ca/waterrestrictions or metrovancouver.org for more information including a summary of restrictions for stages 1 through 4.

Using less water at home, both outside and indoors, helps us conserve treated drinking water. Typically, much of the water used in summer is for outdoor activities such as lawn watering, but it’s okay for your lawn to go dormant. With proper care and maintenance, your lawn will quickly green-up again in the fall. 

The region’s drinking water is a shared resource managed by Metro Vancouver under its Drinking Water Conservation Plan. The City enforces restrictions through our Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 3346. Remember to follow current restrictions to conserve drinking water and avoid fines. 

No exemption permits

Please note that exemption permits are not available. Under Port Moody’s Water Conservation Plan Bylaw, residents establishing new lawns or using nematode applications are only eligible for a temporary exemption permit from water restrictions when Stage 1 is in effect. As Stage 2 will be in effect as of May 1, 2026, new exemption permits, or extensions to active permits, are not being issued. Any active exemption permits remain in effect until they expire.

Impact on City work

The water restrictions established in Metro Vancouver’s Drinking Water Conservation Plan are specific to three types of property: residential, non-residential, and government/schools/parks. The City follows the restrictions for governments/schools/parks. During Stage 2:

Prohibited

• watering lawns and grass boulevards

Allowed but with restrictions

• watering trees, shrubs, and flowers – on any day from 4am to 9am if using an automatic or manual sprinkler, or at any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation (hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle)
• watering soil-based playing fields – no more than four days in a seven-day period from 7pm to 9am
• watering sand-based playing fields – on any day from 7pm to 9am
• operating spray parks – allowed only if the park has user-activated switches

Allowed

• topping up or filling pools and hot tubs

Review Metro Vancouver’s summary of restrictions for details including exceptions to the above. 

Water restrictions apply only to the use of Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) drinking water and not to the use of rain water, grey water, any forms of recycled water, or water from sources outside the GVWD water system.

Why do we need water restrictions?

Restrictions help manage demand for drinking water during the drier months and periods of water shortages, and in emergencies. Our water starts as rainfall and snowmelt in the mountains and flows downhill into large collection lakes called reservoirs. While we receive our fair share of rain in winter and early spring, May through September can be dry – this means the supply of treated water in our reservoirs is lowest when demand is highest. Water use can increase by 50 per cent in summer and early fall. Even seemingly small actions can make a difference – for example, one hour of lawn watering uses as much drinking water as 25 toilet flushes, five loads of laundry, and five dishwasher loads combined. Visit welovewater.ca for simple ways to use less water at home.