Metro Vancouver brought in Stage 1 water restrictions on May 1st, two weeks earlier than last year

Rainfall totals are running 90 per cent below normal so far in Metro Vancouver for May

Stage 1 water restrictions won't be upgraded, yet, even with dry May

METRO VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Is your lawn already starting the show the evidence of a lack of rain this month?

It’s been a little more than three weeks since Metro Vancouver brought in water restrictions. With rainfall totals running 90 per cent below normal so far, some may be wondering when — or if — the regional district would boost restrictions up to Stage 2.

However, it doesn’t look like that will be the case, for now.

“We implemented Stage 1 on May 1st, and our reservoirs are still tracking to be full towards the end of May, early June so that’s good,” explains North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto, who doubles as the head of Metro Vancouver’s utilities committee.

He says the reservoirs will get that boost from the snow pack run-off, and hopes we’ll get some rain over the summer to boost those levels as well.

“At this point, level one — Stage 1 — water restrictions are adequate, but we will go to Stage 2 should we need to. But at this point in time what we’re finding is we don’t need to.”

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t do your part. You can help cut down on water usage by, for example, taking shorter showers.

Providing we are all water-wise, all the water still to come into the reservoirs should get us through summer.

That is a good thing, because NEWS 1130 meteorologist Russ Lacate says there isn’t much rain coming.

“And this is the anticipated trend for the rest of spring, setting us up for what should be a long, hot summer on the west coast.”

Stage 1 residential lawn watering allowed:

Even-numbered addresses Wednesday, Saturday mornings 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Odd-numbered addresses Thursday, Sunday mornings 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation

Stage 1 non-residential lawn watering allowed:

Even-numbered addresses Monday mornings 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday mornings, 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Odd-numbered addresses Tuesday mornings 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday mornings, 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day, from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation

Water restrictions were brought in two weeks earlier than they were last year. Mussatto has previously said May 1st will be the new start date moving forward regardless of the rain or shine.

Restrictions will be lifted on October 15.