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It’s still early in the season, but it appears Metro Vancouver could avoid the severe water restrictions the region was faced with last summer.

Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee Chair and Mayor of the City of North Vancouver, Darrell Mussatto, says water levels in all three reservoirs – Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam – are within the normal ranges for this time of year.

“In fact, they are at the higher end of normal, meaning that we certainly will not be needing to go to Stage 2 at this point,” says Mussatto.

Indeed, Mussatto says with the cooler weather, they hope to stay at Stage 1 water restrictions for the entire summer.

“Our snow pack is better than at the same time last year and with cooler weather, water use is slightly down as well,” he says. “People hopefully have learned from last year’s water situation and have made adjustments.”

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Last July, Metro Vancouver had to move to Stage 3 water restrictions amidst unseasonably dry and hot weather.

The restrictions meant no residential or non-residential lawn sprinkling and no garden watering. Public pools and fountains were also left dry. The region did not move back to Stage 1 water restrictions until late September when temperatures finally cooled down.

This year, Stage 1 water restrictions kicked in on May 15, which is two weeks earlier that usual.

Residential lawn sprinkling will be allowed on alternating days:

Even-numbered addresses: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Non-residential lawn sprinkling will be allowed at:

Even-numbered addresses: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. PT

Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. PT

All non-residential addresses will be allowed to water lawns on Friday mornings from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

If someone waters their lawn outside the designated times without a permit, they could be fined $250.

Other Stage 1 water restrictions going into effect mean homeowners cannot water their cars and boats, except with hoses that have spring-loaded shut offs.

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