Metro Vancouver tightens water restrictions on May 1

Metro Vancouver will move directly to Stage 2 water restrictions on May 1, earlier and stricter than usual because of a low snowpack and maintenance work on a major water supply tunnel beneath Stanley Park. The region says the tunnel project, which is replacing a water main from the 1930s, will keep part of the system offline until late June or early July. Officials warned that higher summer demand, especially from lawn watering, could strain the water system. Under Stage 2, lawn watering is banned for residential and nonresidential properties. Trees, shrubs, and flowers can still be watered during specific hours or by hand, while vegetable gardens may be watered at any time. Metro Vancouver says Stage 3 restrictions could begin in June, which has not happened since 2015. White Rock, meanwhile, says it uses its own water supply and will start with Stage 1 restrictions on May 1.