Reducing your indoor water use can be done by making small adjustments to your everyday routines. Here are a few quick and easy tips for saving water indoors:

• keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge
• consider buying a dual-flush toilet
• turn off the tap when shaving or brushing your teeth
• shorten your shower by two minutes
• don't let the water run when washing dishes
• run full loads in the dishwasher

For more tips on conserving water indoors, visit:

We Love Water - Indoor Tips

Our water use doubles in the summer largely due to lawn watering, power-washing and other outdoor use. Here are a few quick and easy tips for saving water outdoors:

• water your lawn early in the morning
• water the lawn, not the pavement
• use a broom instead of a hose
• install a shut-off nozzle on your hose
• choose plants that love dry heat
• install a rain-barrel near your vegetable beds

For more tips on conserving water outside, visit:

We Love Water - Outdoor Tips

Residential Watering Regulations

Stage 1 seasonal watering regulations are in effect May 1 to October 15. Watering is allowed during certain times:

Residential lawns 

Even-numbered addresses on Saturdays
Odd-numbered addresses on Sundays

• Automatic watering: 5–7 a.m.
• Manual watering: 6–9 a.m. 

Trees, shrubs and flowers

• Sprinklers:  5–9 a.m., any day
• Hand watering, soaker hose, or drip irrigation: anytime

Vegetable gardens

• anytime

More information on Metro Vancouver's Drinking Water Conservation Plan

Lawn Care

Did you know that by planning ahead and preparing healthy soil, choosing low-maintenance grasses, and adapting your watering routine, you can have a healthy lawn using less water?

Plan your lawn care routine! From applying lime to aerating to mowing, know what lawn care activities you need to do this spring, summer, fall and winter!

Waterwise Lawn Care - Schedule

One of the most plentiful sources of water we have comes directly from the sky. Rain barrels provide an excellent method of capturing rain for irrigation purposes and helping you conserve water.

Low-cost rain barrels may be available at a series of one-day truckload sale events in Metro Vancouver in the spring.                         

Local home and garden retailers also sell rain barrels in a variety of shapes and styles (prices vary).

Rain barrel features:

• 55-gallon barrel (200 litres)
• 34” high by 24” wide
• insect resistant mesh on lid
• overflow hose
• childproof lid
• easy installation & maintenance

High-efficiency clothes washer rebate

This high-efficiency rebate program is no longer available.

Rebates were previously available on eligible Energy Star clothes washers as an incentive funded by BC Hydro, Fortis BC, and the District of West Vancouver.

Similar to the high-efficiency toilet rebate program, many clothes washers are now high-efficiency, making it easy for people to choose more efficient models.

Visit BC Hydro Powersmart to learn more about rebates for other energy-efficient products.

High-efficiency toilets

West Vancouver has phased out the high-efficiency toilet rebate program in January 2015.

The toilet rebate is replaced by a new high-efficiency clothes washer rebate that is jointly supported by BC Hydro and West Vancouver.

Why did we phase out the toilet rebate program?

The BC Building Code was revised in 2011 to require High-Efficiency Toilets (HET) (4.8L per flush or less) or dual flush toilets to be used any time a new toilet is installed in a residential setting. Now, many toilet models are high-efficiency. This makes it easy for people to choose more efficient models. 

Help choosing the right model