How Metro Vancouver aims to cut per-person water use by 17% | Daily Hive

How Metro Vancouver is aiming to cut per-person water use by 64 litres a day

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Metro Vancouver wants to cut down the per-person consumption of water in the region by almost 17 per cent.

The region, which is responsible for providing water to over three million residents, recently adopted an updated Drinking Water Management Plan, with a target to keep per-person water use to a maximum of 320 litres per day by 2035, down from the per-person average of 384 litres recorded in 2023.

“Metro Vancouver has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in Canada, meaning there is substantial opportunity to use water more efficiently,” reads the report. “Strong conservation and demand management can play a major role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the system.”

Climate change is already bringing hotter and drier summers, reduced snowpack, and variable rainfall, all of which impact the region’s water reservoirs.

Snowpack, built up in the mountains over the winter months, stores water for the region. Instead of rain, which immediately washes through the system, it stays up in the mountains, delaying the release of that water into the spring and summer.

Meanwhile, the region’s population growth is expected to grow to 3.5 million by 2035 and to over four million by 2050, increasing overall demand for drinking water.

“These conditions heighten the importance of managing drinking water use wisely, making the most of existing infrastructure capacity, and planning carefully for future investments,” reads the report.

How is Metro Vancouver planning to hit this target?

Metro Vancouver listed several actions to promote water conservation, so that the region “can collectively work towards” the goal of keeping per capita water use to 320 litres per day.

For example, they plan to work with member jurisdictions to reduce seasonal water demand by strengthening enforcement, updating water restrictions and local bylaws, and encouraging efficient use of outdoor water. (The region currently has lawn watering restrictions from May to October, since it is the main culprit of the summertime surge in water use.)

They encourage member jurisdictions to implement water metering, which is recognized as one of the best ways to conserve water: municipalities can detect and fix water leaks, raise consumer awareness, and allow for pay-for-use billing.

This is something the City of Vancouver has already started to do. Currently, the City requires water meters for all newly-built single-family houses and dual-family houses, as well as existing residences that are being renovated or rebuilt.

In January, City Council passed a motion to direct City staff to look into increasing water meter installation in existing single-family houses, multi-family houses, mixed-use stratas, and commercial buildings.

Staff are expected to report back on this by the end of April with potential timelines, an analysis of the installation cost and financial benefits to the municipal government and residents, and the “opportunities to encourage adoption” of such equipment.

With files from Kenneth Chan

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