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The Metro Vancouver Regional District is further cracking down on outdoor water use, with Stage 3 water restrictions to be implemented on June 8 amid hot and dry weather in the region.
In a statement, the regional district says one reason for the restrictions is that a major water supply pipe will be offline for repairs. That combined with a significantly low snowpack and high water usage by residents has led to concerns over the water supply.
Metro Vancouver says that the snowpack sits at less than 15 per cent of the historical average for this time of year, and water usage in May 2026 was higher than May last year.
WATCH | Lawn watering already banned in region:
Metro Vancouver to ban lawn watering amid early Stage 2 water restrictions
Amid mounting summer drought concerns, Metro Vancouver is banning all lawn watering as of May 1. As the CBC’s Troy Charles reports, the regional district says this year, for the first time ever, it is taking the unusual step of starting restrictions at the Stage 2 level.
“Historic water use trends show that the region regularly exceeds 1.4 billion litres in June, and Stage 3 water restrictions … are required to keep the region below that target and ensure the system is protected during June and July,” reads a statement from the regional district.
“With reductions in outdoor water use, this is achievable.”
Linda Parkinson, the director of Metro Vancouver’s water services department, told CBC News that the regional district anticipated the snowpack to be gone “within weeks,” and the region was already drawing from its reservoirs a month earlier than usual.
The last time Metro Vancouver was under Stage 3 water restrictions was in July 2015, nearly 11 years ago.
“When the weather gets warm and we all start to use way more water — 50 per cent more water — that’s what the restrictions are aimed at cutting back on,” Parkinson said.
What Stage 3 means
Under Stage 3 restrictions, pools, hot tubs and fountains cannot be filled or topped up.
Washing vehicles — except spot-cleaning mirrors, windows and lights for safety purposes — is also prohibited.
Under Stage 3 restrictions, filling or topping up swimming pools is prohibited. (Chiyacat/Shutterstock)
Lawn watering was already banned in the region under existing Stage 2 water restrictions, which have been in place since May 1.
People can water trees, shrubs and flowers at any time if they are hand watering or using drip irrigation — but sprinklers and soaker hoses will be prohibited, and hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Stage 3 water restrictions also mean washing driveways and sidewalks is largely prohibited.
Commercial properties are also subject to similar restrictions, with Metro Vancouver saying each of its member jurisdictions would enforce the rules through local bylaws.
Concern over water pressure
Metro Vancouver says that keeping regional daily water use under 1.4 billion litres would mean water pressure isn’t affected while a critical water supply pipe undergoes repairs.
The pipe in question, the First Narrows Crossing, carries water from North Shore reservoirs through Stanley Park and into Vancouver.
It has been offline since last fall to facilitate construction work on the new Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel, which will replace the aging water main built in the 1930s.
“Lower water pressure could affect the ability of first responders to use water for emergencies because of a decrease in water pressure,” the regional district says.
Metro Vancouver is the regional government that provides and co-ordinates services for 21 municipalities across the Lower Mainland.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre said in an update on May 15 that low snowpack, early snowmelt and warm temperatures were elevating drought hazards for summer, “particularly along the southern coast.”
WATCH | Metro Vancouver faces water supply crunch:
Vancouver is running out of water — and the solutions are wild
As Metro Vancouver’s population grows and its reliable snowpack shrinks, the race is on to secure the region’s water supply for the next century. But the solutions on the table are bolder than you might expect, ranging from tapping backup lakes to giant straws and massive dam expansions. CBC’s Johanna Wagstaffe investigates how the city plans to keep the taps running. Correction: This video was edited after it was first published to correct spelling errors in the names of two people.
