Thanks to recent rainstorms and a drop in our own water consumption, Metro Vancouver has taken us from Stage 3 watering restrictions down to Stage 2.
But before we all go dashing for a sprinkler, it would be good if we took some time to reflect on the lessons these last few parched months have taught us.
Metro Vancouver has pledged to review the entire water conservation plan and we look forward to seeing the results.
Metro utilities committee chairman and City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto has said all options are on the table, including water meters. Municipalities that have them have been repeatedly shown to be more judicious with their water.
We’d also like to get a better handle on industrial and business water usage. There’s some question about whether we moved to Stage 3 soon enough and we heard plenty of complaints arguing the restrictions on what was allowed and what wasn’t were totally arbitrary.
It’s only prudent that Metro should review its policies after one of the worst local droughts on record comes to an end, but we should also be looking to our own habits.
Our water system is AAA expensive infrastructure and so we want to be dam-sure that we’re putting it to its best use. That might not include dumping our drinking water, which is the envy of much of the world, onto our lawns.
No doubt we’ve got some rainy months ahead of us. Let’s see if we can be better prepared for the next hot, dry summer.
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