Lawn sprinkling is no longer forbidden in Metro Vancouver now that the region has decided to relax watering restrictions.

Stage 3 restrictions have been in effect since July 20, but after recent heavy rains replenished Metro Vancouver’s water supplies, staff members have determined that it is safe to return to Stage 2.

“Collectively, we did a tremendous job conserving water during months of dry, hot weather,” Greg Moore, chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors, said in a news release.

“Due to the extraordinary conservation efforts of the citizens of Metro Vancouver, we did not exceed the 1.2 billion-litres-a-day target for water use shortly after implementing the Stage 3 restrictions.”

The region’s three reservoirs are now 60-per-cent full. Metro Vancouver workers will continue to monitor the water supply and consumption to determine if the restrictions can be relaxed even further.

Under Stage 2 restrictions, lawn sprinkling is allowed once a week, but only in the morning. Washing of driveways and sidewalks is also allowed for health and safety purposes.

For more details on the new restrictions, click here.