Hand watering of trees, flowers, shrubs and vegetable gardens with a container or device with an automatic shut-off is allowed on any day at any time.

Lawn watering with a sprinkler is allowed two days per week:

• 4 am to 10 am
• 7 pm to 10 pm

Address	Wednesday	Thursday	Saturday	Sunday
Odd Addresses
Even Addresses

View the full "How to Work within the Bylaw" chart

Hand watering of trees, flowers, shrubs and vegetable gardens with a container or device with an automatic shut-off is allowed on any day between:

• 6 am to 9 am
• 7 pm to 10 pm

Lawn watering with a sprinkler is allowed one day per week based on neighbourhood:

• Even Addresses: 6 am to 9 am
• Odd Addresses: 7 pm to 10 pm

View the full "How to Work within the Bylaw" chart

Lawn watering is not allowed.

Hand watering of trees, flowers, shrubs and vegetable gardens with a container or device with an automatic shut-off is allowed on any day between:

• 6 am to 9 am
• 7 pm to 10 pm

View the full "How to Work within the Bylaw" chart

No outdoor water use at all. 

This is reserved for emergency situations.

• Dormant, not dead. Grass naturally goes dormant during dry weather. Don’t try to keep grass artificially green with tap water. Let nature take its course. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
  
  
• Set your mowing height to 6-8 cm high. Taller grass develops a deeper root system and shades the soil, which helps retain moisture.
  
  
• Proper lawn care in the spring and fall, including aerating and fertilizing, will help grass become more resilient through the dry summer. If you plan to reseed your lawn or install new sod, avoid doing so during the hot summer months.
  
  
• Place an upside down frisbee on your lawn while using the sprinkler. Once it’s full, turn the water off. Your lawn only needs one inch or 2.5 cm of water per week.
  
  
• Invest in a reasonably priced water timer to pre-set your sprinkler the night before.
  
  
• Set sprinklers so that only the grass or garden is watered, not the sidewalk.
  
  
• Invest in a rain sensor for your in-ground irrigation system. If it rains, the irrigation will automatically turn off, saving water.
  
  
• Add a layer of mulch to your garden to help retain moisture.
  
  
• Landscape using native or drought-resistant plants and garden designs that minimize water use.
  
  
• Water the roots of your plants, instead of the leaves, with an efficient method like drip irrigation.
  
  
• Watch the weather before watering the garden. If rain is predicted, let Mother Nature take care of the job for you. Avoid watering in windy or hot conditions, when the vast majority of water will be lost to evaporation.
  
  
• Collect water from your roof in a rain barrel to water your garden. Plants love the untreated rain water with the natural pH. Be sure your rain barrel is safely secured so it can't tip over and fitted with mosquito mesh over all openings. 

• Use an automatic shut off nozzle. Running your hose without a shut off-nozzle loses 20 litres/minute: that’s about 80 cups of drinking water wasted every minute.
  
  
• If you need to wash your vehicle, using a bucket, sponge and hose with a self-closing nozzle can save as much as 300 litres of water per wash.
  
  
• Use a broom to clean driveways and sidewalks instead of the hose.
• Consider cleaning outdoor surfaces by using a pressure washer. These machines use significantly less water than an average garden hose and usually require less harsh chemicals for cleaning.
  
  

• Keep pools covered to reduce water lost to evaporation
  
  
• Try to keep the water in wading pools clean so it does not need to be changed as often.
  
  
• Consider going for a swim in one of the local lakes to cool off instead of running through the sprinkler.

The Ring Creek Aquifer is the District’s sole source for drinking water. The District has backup surface water sources that would only be used in an emergency. Seven wells draw water from the Ring Creek Aquifer, located at the Powerhouse Springs well field. 

Water restrictions are in place due to the pumping and storage capacity of the District’s water supply and distribution system in order to meet peak summertime demands and, more critically, to ensure adequate supply in the event of a fire or other emergency during peak summertime demands.

Water conservation measures are also in place to delay (or even avoid) costly water system upgrades to increase the pumping and storage capacity for peak summertime demand. 

A 2014 Hydrogeological Assessment revealed that only 31% of the Ring Creek Aquifer recharge comes from rainfall and snowmelt, which can take up to several years to enter the system.

The District uses non-potable water from wells near Hendrickson Fields and at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre to water the playing fields. The District also uses non-potable water for watering the hanging baskets around town. 

In addition to the District’s Outdoor Water Use Bylaw to manage increased summer usage, our water conservation and water-wise efforts include:

• Community education and outreach:
  • Squamish Farmers’ Market,
  • Water Conservation Educator neighbourhood outreach
  • Water conservation tips and information online and via the District’s weekly eNews and social media networks
• Using non-potable water to water the fields at Brennan Park and to water flower baskets around town;
• Filling our reservoirs outside of times when there is peak demand.

The District monitors water consumption and weather data (average and maximum daily temperatures, precipitation and snowfall amounts) on a daily basis. Data collected over the past four years has revealed the following trends year after year:

• Daily water consumption increases by an average of 75% during the peak summertime months, compared to baseline daily water consumption in the winter and shoulder seasons.
• Peak water consumption occurs during prolonged periods of hot and dry weather, when the risk of fire is high.
• As our population continues to increase, so does our daily water consumption.

Stage 1: Stage 1 water conservation begins on May 1 each year. Water restrictions are lifted on October 31 each year unless conditions warrant keeping the restrictions in place.

Stage 2: In anticipation of the historical water use rise during the hot, dry summer months of July and August, the District typically moves to Stage 2 water restrictions before the Canada Day holiday each year and continues through the Labour Day holiday. The move to Stage 2 may occur sooner based on weather and consumption.

Stage 3: Stage 3 water restrictions come into effect on an as-needed basis, based on daily water consumption trends, weather, and forest fire hazard level.

Stage 4: Stage 4 water restrictions come into effect on an as-needed basis and are reserved for emergency situations.

On average, most lawns need 2.5 cm of water (or 1 hour) per week. To determine how much water is enough, place an upside-down Frisbee or empty tuna can onto your lawn while watering. Stop watering when the Frisbee is full, or when there is 2.5 cm of water in the tuna can. 

Yes. Summertime outdoor water use restrictions apply only to the use of drinking water for watering lawns, trees and shrubs, and washing cars, driveways and siding. Using rain water, gray water, or any forms of recycled water is not restricted.

Bulk non-potable water is available for purchase to developers, contractors and others for their projects and events where non-potable water is suitable.