Watering restrictions are easing for residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Effective today, Metro Vancouver has announced a scale back from Stage 3 restrictions to Stage 2, now that the First Narrows Crossing has returned to service following completion of critical infrastructure work for the Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel Project.
This means that sprinklers and soaker hoses can be used again for trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens, with some limitations; rules will be less restrictive for vehicle washing and some surface cleaning; and topping up or filling pools and hot tubs can once again resume.
For residential properties, trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered by hand on any day and at any time using a soaker hose, water container, drip irrigation, or a hose with a spring-loaded nozzle.
A sprinkler can be used only between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., but on any day during the week. For non-residential properties the hours are 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Vegetable gardens can be watered at any time.
All lawn watering remains banned for both residential and non-residential properties, including the topping up of decorative water features.
However, vehicles and boats can be washed at home using a spring-loaded hose nozzle, or a commercial car wash.
For surface cleaning, personal pressure washers and garden hoses can by used for health and safety, but not for aesthetic cleaning.
Commercial cleaners are allowed for any type of cleaning.
Metro Vancouver stores, treats, and delivers drinking water through its member jurisdictions to more than 3 million people in the region.
Water conservation is a major part of the agency’s planning to support the sustainable use of water resources.
Helping residents, businesses, schools, and member jurisdictions use only the water they need helps support an efficient and relatively cost-effective water system, said Metro Vancouver online.
Municipal enforcement can be reached at 604-463-9581 in Maple Ridge, and by calling 604-465-2428, extension 2, in Pitt Meadows.
For more information go to: metrovancouver.org/lawns.