COQUITLAM, B.C., July 31, 2023 – The City of Coquitlam supports the regional water restrictions to help ensure residents have an adequate supply of water for critical uses such as drinking and firefighting during the dry summer months when water usage almost doubles.
On Friday, July 28, Metro Vancouver advised that they will be activating regional Stage 2 water use restrictions starting August 4. Stage 2 water restrictions mean that all residential and non-residential lawn watering and watering of grass boulevards is banned, including hand watering, until further notice.
Watering could result in a $150 to $500 fine under Coquitlam’s Drinking Water Conservation Plan (DWCP) Bylaw No. 4838, 2018. Fines during Stage 2 are $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days).
Stage 2 Restrictions
Restrictions under Stage 2 include:
- No lawn watering for residential or non-residential properties including grass boulevards.
- No topping up or filling of aesthetic water features such as fountains.
- No washing of impermeable/hard surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks unless it’s for a health or safety reason, or to prepare a surface for painting or similar treatment and must be undertaken by a commercial cleaning service.
- Reduction of the watering of some playing fields and golf course fairways.
Knowing the Rules
- Yes - residential and non-residential watering of flowers and vegetable gardens, shrubs, trees and planters by hand or using soaker hoses or drip irrigation at any time, or by using a sprinkler between 5 and 9 a.m. any day.
- There are no restrictions on plants grown for food in Stage 2.
- Yes – commercial car wash operations.
- Yes – washing of any cars or boats – hose MUST have shut-off nozzle and only if necessary for safety concerns, i.e. lights and mirrors.
Water Exemption Permits
No new permits for watering new lawns or lawns being treated for the European Chafer Beetle will be granted in Stage 2. Permits issued in Stage 1 remain in effect until they expire. Visit coquitlam.ca/WaterPermit for details.
Conservation for the Environment and Future Generations
The long-term weather forecast continues to be a warm and dry trend with minimal precipitation and seasonal projections of a continued drought into the fall. Supporting Metro Vancouver’s stricter watering restrictions now provides flexibility to support early fall salmon runs, which may be crucial to protect our ecosystem and fish populations.
Many Ways to Conserve Water
There are many ways to reduce the amount of drinking water we use in daily activities and the City offers residents low-cost rain barrels ($73 for 208 litre) that collect and store rainwater to use on gardens, lawns and hanging baskets, as well as programmable, electronic watering timers ($55). Visit coquitlam.ca/WaterWise for tips and tools.
Coquitlam has had a water conservation program since 1993 that delivers public outreach and education and includes the updated region-wide restrictions. These initiatives are a cost-effective way to manage our water demand and align with the City’s Environmental Sustainability Plan and Enhanced Water Conservation Strategy, which are focused on conserving and protecting Coquitlam’s drinking water.
Visit coquitlam.ca/H2O for regulation and restriction details.
Media contact:
Caresse Selk
Manager Environment
604-927-3500
waterconservation@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.