Metro Vancouver seeing 'higher-than-usual' water consumption; residents urged to conserve
CTV
Metro Vancouver is seeing “higher than usual” water consumption from residents due to the climbing temperatures, as the province warns of worsening drought conditions.
Metro Vancouver is seeing “higher than usual” water consumption from residents due to the climbing temperatures, as the province warns of worsening drought conditions.
In a statement to CTV News, the regional district that represents 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation, said although its water reservoirs are currently showing they are within the normal range, the weather the province is expecting to have this summer is not “normal.”
The region is currently under Stage 1 water restrictions, but that could change if water consumption does not decrease, according to the regional district.
“If we are unable to get the water consumption down, then we will need to go to a higher level of restrictions, which would ban lawn watering and put further restrictions on residents and businesses,” the statement said.
It also noted that on every day of May and June this year, more drinking water was used when compared to 2022. Total water use, according to Metro Vancouver, was up by 21 per cent during that period.
Dr. John Richardson, a UBC freshwater scientist and professor in the faculty of forestry, said changes like taking shorter showers and turning off the tap when brushing your teeth can make a difference.
“There are about 2.4 million people in the Metro Vancouver area. You start to multiply that up and you realize that’s a big volume of water if everyone saves a few liters here and there,” he said.
