5.

To:

Utilities Committee

From:

Inder Singh, Director, Policy, Planning and Analysis, Water Services

Nermine Tawfik, Acting Program Manager, Public Involvement, Water Services

Date:

November 2, 2016

Subject:

Water Shortage Response Plan Review Update

Meeting Date: November 10, 2016

RECOMMENDATION
That the GVWD Board:
a) Receive for information the report titled Water Shortage Response Plan Review Update,
dated November 2, 2016; and
b) Direct staff to consult on the proposed changes to the Water Shortage Response Plan.

PURPOSE
To update the Committee and Board on the status of the Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP)
Review and obtain authorization to consult on the proposed changes.
BACKGROUND
The WSRP was developed in 1993, and updated in 2004 and 2011, to manage demand for drinking
water, and to conserve limited water supplies during the dry summer months when water
consumption increases significantly due to outdoor use. The WSRP is also intended to manage
demand during periods of drought, or in times of emergency, when limited supplies of water are
available.
At its meeting of November 27, 2015, after the dry, hot summer, the Board approved a process to
review and update the 2011 Plan and adopted the following resolution:
That the GVWD Board:
a) Approve the Water Shortage Response Plan Review Process outlined in the report titled
Water Shortage Response Plan Review Process, dated November 5, 2015; and
b) Authorize amending the activation period for Stage 1 of the Water Shortage Response
Plan from June 1 September 30 to May 15 October 15.
As presented in November 2015, the Plan review and update process included two phases. Phase 1
involved the amendment, ahead of the 2016 summer season, of specific elements within the Plan to
address key implementation concerns raised by local governments, businesses, and the public during
the summer of 2015. Phase 2 included a comprehensive technical review and stakeholder
consultation program to produce an updated Plan for Board consideration in spring 2017.

At its February 26, 2016 meeting, following completion of the Phase 1 review, the Board adopted the
following resolution:
That the GVWD Board authorize amending the Water Shortage Response Plan as follows:
i. Amend Stage 2 to allow water to be used by commercial cleaning services for aesthetic
cleaning; and
ii. Amend Stage 3 to allow previously issued local government exemption permits to water
new lawns or for treatment to control the European Chafer Beetle to remain valid.
Following the Boards authorization to amend the Plan in February 2016, Metro Vancouver has
conducted a comprehensive technical review of the Plan guided by lessons from the implementation
of the Plan during the summer of 2015, feedback received from the public consultation in the fall of
2015, input from local government staff, and the Board Strategic Plan.
The technical review included:
A review of other jurisdictions including neighbouring BC local governments, other North
American cities, and international jurisdictions with experience implementing similar
drought/water shortage response plans;

A review and assessment of the effectiveness of Stages 1, 2, and 3 watering restrictions in

reducing water use and estimating water use reductions for the new proposed changes; and

A workshop for Local Government and Metro Vancouver staff to review the project findings
and provide advice for revising the Plan.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WATER SHORTAGE RESPONSE PLAN

Table 1 details the proposed amendments to the WSRP for each stage.
Table 1- Proposed Amendments to the WSRP
WSRP
Stage

Activity

Current
(2016)

Proposed Amendment

Stage 1

Activation period for

Stage 1

May 15 to October 15

May 1 - October 15

Lawn watering

Three mornings per week

Two mornings per week

Watering of flowers,
planters, shrubs and
trees (using a
sprinkler)

No restrictions

Restrict to morning lawn watering

hours, any day.

Watering of school
yards, sports and
sand-based playing
fields

No restrictions

Watering by hand is allowed any

time on any day. This restriction
does not apply to vegetables.
Restrict to 7:00 pm - 9:00 am, any
day.

WSRP
Stage
Stage 2

Stage 3

Activity

Current
(2016)

Proposed Amendment

Watering of flowers,
planters, shrubs and
trees (using a
sprinkler)

No restrictions

Restrict to morning lawn watering

hours, any day.

Watering of school
yards, sports and
sand-based playing
fields

Water minimally to
maintain areas for use

Restrict to 7:00 pm - 9:00 am,

4 days/week, unless operating under
an approved local government water
management plan.

Watering golf courses

Golf courses may water

greens and tee areas
normally; fairways may
only be watered once
weekly. Where
applicable, signage
indicating the use of nonGVWD water will be
encouraged

Allow an alternative fairway

watering schedule if operating under
an approved local government water
management plan.

Commercial car
washing

No restrictions

Restrict to automatic systems that

recirculate water, or high-pressure
wand facilities.

Topping up or filling of
hotel, residential
strata, and private
club pools and hot
tubs, with a valid
Operating Permit
under the BC Pool
Regulation

Prohibited

Allow the topping up or filling of

hotel, residential strata, and private
club pools and hot tubs, with a valid
Operating Permit under the BC Pool
Regulation.

Watering of school
yards, sports and
sand-based playing
fields

Water minimally to
maintain areas for use

Restrict to 7:00 pm - 9:00 am,

3 days/week, unless operating under
an approved local government water
management plan.

Watering golf courses

Golf courses may water

greens and tee areas at
minimum levels required
to maintain areas in
usable condition;
fairways may not be
watered

Allow golf courses to achieve

comparable Stage 3 water savings if
operating under an approved local
government water management
plan.

Watering by hand is allowed any

time on any day. This restriction
does not apply to vegetables.

Rationale for Proposed Amendments to the WSRP

Amend the activation period for Stage 1 from May 15 - October 15 to May 1 - October 15
Changing the start date of Stage 1 restrictions from May 15 to May 1 aligns the activation
period to that of most neighbouring BC jurisdictions and should help promote water
conservation and help reduce water use during unusually dry and hot summers.

Reduce lawn watering opportunities from three mornings per week to two mornings per
week in Stage 1
One of the key priorities in the Board Strategic Plan is to Consider stricter lawn sprinkling
regulations in order to promote water conservation in the region. Currently the plan
provides opportunities to water lawns on three mornings per week for a total of fifteen hours.
Healthy lawns need only one hour of watering per week. However, many lawns are frequently
overwatered, for example, when in-ground automated sprinkling systems are set to water on
all three allowable days, regardless if lawns need it or not. The purpose of this proposed
change is to reduce inefficient watering practices and the unnecessary waste of high quality
treated drinking water, especially as the prevalence of automated sprinkling systems
increase. This proposed change is also consistent with several other neighbouring BC
jurisdictions.

Restrict watering of flowers, planters, shrubs and trees (using a sprinkler) to WSRP
prescribed lawn watering hours on any day, in Stages 1 and 2
This proposed restriction eliminates mid-day sprinkling, when a portion of the water is lost to
evaporation, to reduce water wastage. It is also consistent with lawn watering restrictions,
which simplifies communication and education, and allows for more efficient monitoring and
enforcement. This also avoids any ambiguity as to whether sprinkling is permitted, or not, for
mixed landscape lots. Under this component of the Plan, hand watering options remain
unchanged.

Restricting school yard, sports and sand-based playing field (sports field) watering to
7:00 pm 9:00 am in Stages 1, 2 and 3, unless operating under an approved local
government water management plan.
Sports fields are a public amenity that need to be maintained to remain playable through the
summer and in the fall, when the fields are more heavily used again, and to prevent the loss
of a public asset. Currently, sports fields can be watered at any time of the day under Stages
1, 2 and 3. This proposed change reduces inefficient watering practices by preventing midday watering when a portion of the water is lost to evaporation. Preventing watering during
the warmer periods of the day is also consistent with lawn watering restrictions and promotes
public sector leadership since most of those fields are owned and operated by local
governments. The proposed restriction still allows plenty of opportunity to water fields that
require more watering such as sand-based and artificial turf fields, while not wasting water.
It is also proposed that, in Stages 2 and 3, where jurisdictions allow water management plans,
operators be allowed to develop a performance-based water management plan specific to
their site, rather than meeting the general restrictions on water use in the regional WSRP.
Water management plans allow operators a flexible and effective mechanism to manage their
irrigation demands without negatively impacting the playing condition of the sports field.
Water management plans also allow local governments to monitor and benchmark water use

performance and to work with sports field operators on improving their skills, knowledge,
and techniques for efficient irrigation.

Restrict commercial car washing to automatic systems that recirculate water, or highpressure wand facilities in Stage 3
Research shows that water used to wash a vehicle in a well maintained commercial car wash
that recirculates water or a high pressure wand facility is substantially lower than in other
types of car washes. This highlights the importance of technological advances and good
maintenance practices in achieving greater water efficiencies. This proposed restriction
would signal to businesses the importance of water efficiency and good business practices.
Additionally, it is not publicly acceptable that an inefficient commercial car wash be operating
when the region is experiencing a water shortage. This Plan aims to reduce business
disruptions, but at this Stage, it is appropriate for car washing businesses to be conserving
water similar to other businesses and residents that are restricted from using water for
aesthetic cleaning activities in Stage 3. Several neighbouring BC jurisdictions have similar
restrictions on commercial car washes at this Stage.

Allow Golf Courses Operating under a Local Government Approved Water Management
Plan an Exemption from the Regional WSRP Watering Restrictions in Stages 2 and 3
Currently a few local governments are allowing golf courses to operate under a performancebased water management plan. Water management plans are generally binding agreements
with the local government, that establish a baseline water demand for the specific golf course
under Stage 1, with targeted reductions in demand to be achieved in Stages 2 and 3.
Feedback from the golf course sector indicated that uniform irrigation is essential to maintain
turf quality. Research also showed that golf course operators manage irrigation intensively to
maintain turf quality, and to reduce water use and costs. Water management plans provide
golf course operators with a flexible and effective mechanism to manage their irrigation
demands without negatively impacting business. They also allow local governments to
monitor and benchmark water use performance and to work with golf course operators on
improving their skills, knowledge, and techniques for efficient turf irrigation.

Allow the Topping up or Filling of Hotel, Residential Strata, and Private Club Pools and Hot
Tubs, with a Valid Operating Permit under the BC Pool Regulation, in Stage 3
Generally, Hotel, Residential strata, and Private Club Pools and Hot Tubs, require a valid
Operating Permit under the BC Pool Regulation pursuant to the BC Public Health Act to
operate. Generally, these pools and hot tubs are used by many people in the region and are
essential for water safety education, physical therapy, recreation and heat relief during
unusually hot summers. The benefits of allowing these pools and hot tubs (found in hotels,
residential strata, private clubs, etc.) to operate at this stage outweigh the small increase in
seasonal water demand.

Proposed General Clarifications to the WSRP

General clarifications to the Water Shortage Response Plan will include a section on year-round
prohibitions to discourage water wastage and a provision exempting local governments from any of
the restrictions in the WSRP for the purposes of protecting public health and safety.

CONSULTATION PROGRAM
The purpose of the consultation program is to receive feedback from GVWD members, the public,
and the private sector on the proposed changes to the Plan. The consultation is planned from
December 2016 to February 2017 and will include workshops, public dialogues, and an online survey.
Following a feedback review period, final adjustments will then be made to the Plan.
A report to the Committee and Board to adopt a revised WSRP is planned for spring 2017. This report
will summarize the results of the consultation process and recommend a revised WSRP for Board
adoption.
ALTERNATIVES
1. That the GVWD Board:
a) Receive for information the report titled Water Shortage Response Plan Review Update,
dated November 2, 2016; and
b) Direct staff to consult on the proposed changes to the Water Shortage Response Plan.
2. That the GVWD Board receive for information the report titled Water Shortage Response Plan
Review - Update, dated November 2, 2016 and provide alternate direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
If the Board approves Alternative 1, staff will proceed with consultation on the proposed changes to
the Water Shortage Response Plan as outlined in this report. The budget and staff resources to
support the consultation program and complete the WSRP review process are included in the 2016
and 2017 Water Services budgets under the Utility Policy & Planning and Public Involvement
programs.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
Several changes are proposed to Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Water Shortage Response Plan reflecting a
year-long review process that involved a consultation in the fall of 2015, a comprehensive technical
review of the Plan in 2016 and continual feedback from local government staff. As directed in the
Board Strategic Plan, this review of the Plan included consideration of stricter lawn sprinkling
regulations in order to promote water conservation.
If the Board approves Alternative 1, staff will proceed to consult on the proposed changes to the Plan
in the December 2016 to February 2017 period and report back to the Board on the consultation
results in spring 2017 along with a request to authorize appropriate changes to the Plan.
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