Vancouver issues $76K in fines for illegal watering in less than 4 weeks
The City of Vancouver has issued more than $160,000 in fines for violations of water restrictions this year, with almost half of the total coming in the last month.
Updated data provided to CTV News Wednesday shows a total of 496 monetary tickets issued between May 1 – the annual start of watering restrictions – and Sept. 3. Bylaw officers have also issued 732 warnings during that span, according to the city.
"Any watering outside of permitted hours witnessed by a bylaw officer results in a ticket with a fine," the city said in an emailed statement.
"Warnings are issued when there is some indication of watering outside of hours ( i.e. damp lawn, watermarks on sidewalk/roadway) but the violation is not actively witnessed by the officer or the evidence is not substantial."
Of the 496 tickets issued, 344 came before Metro Vancouver moved to Stage 2 water restrictions on Aug. 4.
Those tickets were for $250 apiece, meaning the city will collect a total of $86,000 in fines if all of the tickets are paid.
Since the switch to Stage 2 restrictions, 152 tickets have been issued at the higher rate of $500 each, equating to a total of $76,000 between Aug. 4 and Aug. 27, the most recent date for which data is available.
The province remains in the midst of an unprecedented drought.
At a news conference Wednesday, Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma called the situation a "sleeping giant" of a natural disaster, and warned that if the winter brings a sudden switch to heavy rain – as it did in 2021 – there could be a repeat of that year's catastrophic flooding.
Although much of British Columbia has seen some cooler, wetter weather in recent weeks, watering restrictions remain in place.
Metro Vancouver is the regional wholesale supplier of water and sets conservation policies, which are then enforced by bylaw officers in individual municipalities.
It says local drinking water reservoirs are in pretty good shape right now, but residents must remain vigilant to protect our supplies this fall.
"Our reservoirs are at 56 per cent of their maximum, but that water has to last us right through to when the rains come back. The outlook for the weather for September and into October is for dry weather,” said Linda Parkinson, director of policy planning and analysis in the water services department for Metro Vancouver.
Stage 2 water restrictions in Metro Vancouver, which includes a ban on all lawn-watering took effect Aug. 4.
Water demand was very high in May, June, the first half of July compared to 2022.
It peaked at 1.5 billion litres per day.
The increase in consumption is being blamed on a long stretch of hot and dry weather.
The region typically sees a 50-per-cent jump in the summer months due to discretionary use like lawn and garden watering, power washing, and car washing.
The current water restrictions will remain in place until at least Oct. 15, but the regional district says they could be extended, especially if people don’t reduce their consumption.
Demand has decreased with the cooler weather to 1.2 billion litres per day.
“Right now, we think with ongoing help from the public and from the members with enforcement and education, that if we can sustain this, this lower daily demand, we can stay in Stage 2,” said Parkinson.
Municipalities like Vancouver are responsible for handing out fines and warnings, and the issuance of $76,000 worth of tickets in less than four weeks suggests they've stepped up enforcement.
Metro Vancouver officials suspect automatic watering systems are the biggest culprit when it comes to violating restrictions.
There are currently no plans to move to Stage 3 restrictions, according to the regional district.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.