Drought Response in Metro Vancouver: Region ‘unlikely’ to move to Stage 4 water restrictions, says Mayor Darrell Mussatto
Regional Water Use Through August 28, 2015. To obtain current information, visit http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/water/conservation-reservoir-levels/reservoir-levels/Pages/default.aspx
Metro Vancouver moved to Stage 3 water restrictions when high use plus drought depleted reservoir storage
On July 20, 2015 Metro Vancouver moved to Stage 3 water restrictions – for the first time since 2003 – banning all lawn sprinkling with treated drinking water and bringing in a number of other water conservation measures.
“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.”
Stage 3 Restrictions Stabilize Water Use in Metro Vancouver to a sustainable level
On August 11, Metro Vancouver announced that the region likely won’t be seeing tough Stage 4 water restrictions, thanks to residents’ conservation efforts. Since current restrictions came into effect on July 20, the region has managed to keep water consumption below 1.2 billion litres a day. That is a drop of 0.5 billion litres a day from the peak usage in early July.
Current Stage 3 water restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
“Because we’ve been making adjustments and we’ve been reducing our water consumption, not watering our lawns or washing our cars and such, and using less water at home, it looks like hopefully we’ll be able to avoid the Stage 4 restrictions,” said Darrell Mussatto, Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee chair.
“But indeed, we have to stay strong and continue to respect Stage 3, and that will happen probably right through until the end of September.”
To Learn More:
Read the full list of Stage 3 water restrictions
2015 DROUGHT: Longer, Drier, Hotter Summer Triggers Stage 2 Water Restrictions in Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver also posts reservoir storage levels June to November, when rainfall is lower and the regional demand for water is higher. The information is updated each Tuesday.