It may not seem like summer outside, but believe it or not, it's coming, and when it does Metro Vancouver is reminding New Westminster residents to be water-conscious this summer.
According to a Metro Vancouver press release, demand for water doubles during the summer, especially on hot days. This can amount to about two billion litres of water used in just one day.
"One hour of lawn sprinkling each week is all that's needed for lawns to remain healthy," said Greg Moore, chair of the Metro Vancouver board, in the release.
Between June 1 and Sept. 30, residents in New Westminster are restricted from watering their lawns in the evenings. Instead, lawn sprinkling is only allowed between 4 and 9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for even numbered homes, and between the same times on Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays for odd numbered homes.
Darrell Mussatto, chair of Metro Vancouver's utilities committee, said watering lawns in the morning decreases spikes in water consumption during the evenings.
Much of the evening demand comes from dishwashers, showers, baths and washing machines. According to Mussatto, it's the responsibilities of the city to enforce these restrictions.
"If businesses and residents continue to conserve water during the summer, Metro Vancouver can push back the date when we have to build higher dams, bigger pumping stations and bigger water mains," Mussatto said, in the release.
The water restrictions do not apply to watering of flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees.
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