Metro Vancouver's reservoirs are full and its fire risk rating is low, but the area's strict water restrictions are still in place.
Currently the reservoirs used by the area are at 82 per cent, Metro Vancouver Utilities Chair Darrell Mussatto told CTV News.
The Vancouver area's strict water usage rules came into effect in May, two weeks earlier than in previous years.
The decision to start early was made to avoid a situation like last year, when municipalities had to escalate water use rules while the region was under extreme fire danger. April was hotter than usual, and Metro Vancouver officials wanted to be sure they were prepared if the summer was dry.
But after a soggy start to summer, the area's water supply is "very good for this time of year," Mussatto said Tuesday.
"We've used less water, there's less stress on the reservoirs, and so it's a lot better for us... Our per capita consumption is down while our population is growing, which is a great thing."
Still, the Metro Vancouver municipalities have no plans to pull back the water restrictions.
Musssato said the cities always plan for the worst, and are still encouraging conservation just in case the weather turns.
"It's about long-term planning. We have a lot of engineers that look into this. They've been taking lots of measurements every day," he said.
Metro Vancouver has been in "Stage 1" of its restriction plans since May 15. As long as residents obey restrictions, officials believe there will be no need to escalate to Stages 2, 3 or 4.
Under Stage 1, residential lawn watering is allowed on even-numbered addresses on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Odd-numbered addresses can water during the same hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Those who water outside of the designated times could face fines of $250.
There are also restrictions for non-residential lawns, artificial turf, and car and boat washing, but watering of flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees is still allowed.
The water restrictions will last until Oct. 15. Mussatto points out the weather could heat up as early as the end of the week and continue well into the fall, so water conservation efforts despite the damp start to the summer are appreciated and encouraged.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Penny Daflos
