Metro Vancouver urges compliance with water restrictions as hot, dry weekend begins

Regional authorities have set a water-use target of less than 1.4 billion litres per day in Metro Vancouver this summer, and with high temperatures in the forecast this weekend, they’re urging residents to conserve the resource.

Stage 3 water restrictions are in effect across the region, prohibiting lawn watering and restricting the use of water for hydrating trees and gardens, filling pools and hot tubs, and washing surfaces, vehicles, and boats.

The full details of the restrictions are explained on the Metro Vancouver website.

“Keeping water use under 1.4 billion litres per day will ensure water pressure is not affected,” the regional district said in a statement Saturday morning.

“Lower water pressure could affect the ability of first responders to use water for emergencies, like fighting fires.”

So far this year, the region has not exceeded the 1.4-billion-litre mark, but Metro Vancouver warns that periods of warm, dry weather can increase water use by 50 per cent per day, or more.

Temperatures in inland parts of Metro Vancouver are expected to reach as high as 29 C Saturday and 31 C on Sunday, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast.

“With a hot, dry weekend coming up, we’re appealing to the public to skip non-essential outdoor water use, which includes complying with a ban on lawn-watering,” said Mike Hurley, Burnaby’s mayor and the chair of Metro Vancouver, in a news release Friday.

“If everyone keeps their sprinklers off, we can meet this reasonable target.”

Metro Vancouver says its 2026 target is slightly lower than the peak daily summer use of roughly 1.5 billion litres seen last summer.

Part of the rationale for the restrictions and the lower use target is the ongoing Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel Project, which began in October 2025.

The work involves constructing a bypass that will allow water to continue to be delivered while the construction of the new water supply tunnel is underway. The regional district says it expects to complete the bypass work “around the end of July.”

“At that time, conditions will be assessed, and Stage 3 water restrictions will be lifted if water supply allows,” the Friday release reads.