Metro Vancouver nearly met daily water-saving target in June

Metro Vancouver says it has been meeting its summer wateruse target, though hot weather is pushing demand close to the limit. The regional water authority set a goal of keeping daily consumption at or below 1.4 billion litres after low snowpack, high temperatures and an outage on one of its main supply lines reduced available capacity. Water use peaked on June 21 and 22 at 1.37 billion litres, according to Metro Vancouver data. Officials say the spike was driven largely by outdoor water use during a stretch of hot weather. The region remains under Stage 3 water restrictions, which ban most lawn watering, car washing, and filling pools, hot tubs and fountains. Hand watering and drip irrigation for trees, shrubs and flowers are still allowed. Metro Vancouver says cooperation from residents has helped keep demand within target, but it continues to warn that sustained heat could put more pressure on the system. The situation is complicated by differing local enforcement, including Surrey’s decision to keep some Stage 2 rules in place.