Stage 2 watering restrictions in effect starting August 4 – lawn watering to be prohibited

Effective August 4, 2023, Metro Vancouver is activating stage 2 of the region’s Drinking Water Conservation Plan, which means all residential and non-residential lawn watering and watering of grass boulevards will be banned. Metro Vancouver is taking this step due to continued high water demand and forecasted hot, dry weather. 

Additional restrictions under stage 2 will include:

• no washing of impermeable/hard surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks unless its for a health or safety reason, or to prepare a surface for painting or similar treatment; and
• no new permits for watering new lawns or lawns being treated for the European Chafer Beetle (permits issued in Stage 1 remain in effect until they expire). 

Activities permitted under stage 2 include:

• trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered by hand or using soaker hoses or drip irrigation at any time, or by using a sprinkler between 5am and 9am any day; and
• vegetable gardens can be watered at any time. 

Visit metrovancouver.org for a summary of stage 2 outdoor water use restrictions. 

Drinking water is a shared resource in our region and is managed by Metro Vancouver under their Drinking Water Conservation Plan. In the City of Port Moody, this plan is enforced through our Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 3346. We encourage you to follow all watering restrictions to avoid a fine. If you think someone is in violation of watering regulations, you can submit a bylaw complaint online or call 604-469-4697. 

Why is it important to limit outdoor water use? Water from our kitchen taps and backyard hoses comes from the same source. During the warmer months and in periods of dry weather, our regional water use can increase by more than 50 per cent, largely due to lawn and garden watering, and other outdoor uses. To address these seasonal fluctuations in water demand, region-wide watering regulations are in effect from May to October each year as a measure to conserve drinking water. We can all do our part to conserve drinking water! 

Please read Metro Vancouver’s July 28, 2023 media release to learn more, and visit welovewater.ca for water conservation tips.