Metro Vancouver water use is slowly increasing as outdoor watering restrictions remain in place

With the B.C. government urging residents this week to conserve water as drought conditions blanket much of the province, water restrictions remain at normal summer levels in Metro Vancouver — for now.

Beginning May 1, water restrictions were automatically triggered, restricting watering of lawns, for example, to once a week.

The restrictions remain in effect until Oct. 15, although last year the restrictions were extended until the end of October because of unseasonably dry weather.

Many municipalities, including Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby, have adopted the restrictions, which were updated by Metro Vancouver last year to only allow watering of lawns once a week.

With reservoirs at regular levels for this time of year, there are no immediate plans to upgrade restrictions in Metro Vancouver, but nonetheless residents are being urged to conserve water and follow the restrictions.