.jpg;w=120;h=120;mode=crop){kind=avatar}
Continued hot dry weather over the south coast means Metro Vancouver is extending its lawn watering restrictions to the end of October, in order to conserve drinking water.
Typically, sprinkling regulations limiting the times residents can water their lawns are in place until Oct. 15.
Metro has now extended those restrictions to Oct. 31.
“The region has been experiencing a long period of warm, dry weather since mid-July that is extending into October, historic low river inflows, and higher than average water demands for the time of year,” said Sav Dhaliwal, chair of Metro Vancouver’s board of directors, in a press statement. “We need to ensure our current drinking water supply is preserved until the rain returns. We are increasingly seeing unexpected weather patterns due to climate change, and we can’t make assumptions about when the rain will start again.”
Under the regulations, residents and businesses are permitted to water lawns during designated hours one early morning per week. Trees, shrubs, and flowers may be watered in the morning when using a sprinkler, or any time when hand watered or using drip irrigation. Edible plants are exempt from the regulations.
Water reservoirs within normal range – but dropping
Metro Vancouver’s water reservoirs – including the Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam watersheds – are still within normal range, according to the regional government. However, on Oct. 1, Metro noted storage of 138.5 billion litres in the region’s water supply, which is about 10 billion litres lower than it was at this time in 2021, and over 20 billion litres lower than it was at the beginning of October following an extreme drought in 2015.
Normally, the reservoirs drop until mid- to late-September, then begin filling up with fall rains.
So far, however, there is no significant rain in the forecast for the next week, with only a chance of showers on Monday.
Temperature records broken
Unseasonably hot, dry weather through the first week of October has resulted in more records for high temperatures falling too.
Squamish reached a high of 29.5 C Thursday, with Chilliwack not much cooler at 29.2 C, according to Environment Canada.
Other communities where temperature records were broken included the Sunshine Coast, Powell River and Whistler, as well as areas in the province’s Interior and on Vancouver Island.
The North Shore hit a high of 24 C on Oct. 3.
Fire danger high
With another warm and dry long weekend in the forecast, Metro Vancouver has issued a warning that the south coast is under a high to extreme fire danger rating.
A small fire broke out the evening of Oct. 6 at təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park near White Pine Beach, according to a Metro press release. Thankfully, the fire was quickly extinguished due to prompt action by Port Moody Fire Rescue with assistance from regional parks staff.
Metro is reminding residents that campfires and briquette barbecues are banned in regional parks.
Minnekhada Regional Park will remain closed over the long weekend as firefighting efforts are ongoing.
The Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Minnekhada Park Association, has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to support restoration efforts. The foundation will be matching all donations up to $10,000.
