VANCOUVER

Stage 4: Parched Sunshine Coast restricts all outdoor watering

The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, August 11, 2015 2:42PM PDT Last Updated Tuesday, August 11, 2015 2:44PM PDT

A boat travels out of Burrard Inlet as smoke from wildfires across the province fills the air in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday July 6, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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SECHELT, B.C. - Drought conditions on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver, are so dire that the regional district has hiked watering restrictions to the highest possible level.

Sunshine Coast Regional District spokesman Shane Walkey says Stage 4 restrictions take effect Thursday, meaning all outdoor watering must stop.

Only grey water, the liquid left over after bathing or washing dishes and clothes, can be used on lawns and gardens.

Sunshine Coast officials said in July that Stage 3 restrictions encouraged residents to cut consumption from about 22 million litres of water a day to less than 14 million litres.

But they warned further restrictions would likely be needed this month to keep some water in the district's main reservoir, which serves the majority of Sunshine Coast residents.

Stage 4 restrictions apply to all residential and commercial water users south of Pender Harbour, except registered farms with water meters.