Summer Watering Restrictions

Outdoor watering restrictions are in effect May 1 to October 15 each year.

Stage 1 Residential Lawn Watering

• Lawn and garden sprinkling are allowed on the following days:
• Even addresses - Wednesday & Saturday
• Odd addresses - Thursday & Sunday
• Watering can only occur between 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm on these days
• Apartments and townhouses follow complex addresses, not individual unit numbers.

New unestablished lawns require an exemption certificate. Learn how to apply for a certificate here.

Find out what other water restrictions are in place during stage 1.

Violations can be reported to the Engineering Department at 604-793-2907 or [email protected].

Simple Tips to Maintain a Healthy Lawn While Using Less Water

• Water one hour per week, whether by sprinkler or rain
• Adjust your sprinkler timer – ensure you program your timer to abide by local regulations and to avoid overwatering
• Water early in the morning – this will help reduce the amount of water lost due to evaporation and will help minimize the potential of burning your grass and/or other plants
• Let your lawn go golden (dormant), the grass will return to green in the fall with proper preparation and maintenance
• Prepare your lawn for summer conditions by aerating and over seeding in the spring
• Mow high, this helps shade deep roots that hold water

Frequently Asked Questions

What about gardens, flower beds, and trees?

Watering flower and vegetable gardens, shrubs, and trees is permitted at any time by the use of a spring-loaded hose adapt0r or watering can.

How much water do we use?

On an average day, Chilliwack uses 34 million litres of water. But in the summer, we have used up to 60 million litres of water in one day!

Lawn watering uses approximately 30% of the summer water consumption.  Most lawns only require 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water per week.  Water your lawn in the morning to minimize the amount of water lost to evaporation.

Why do we need to conserve water?

Using less water saves energy, saves money, and conserves the supply from the Sardis-Vedder Aquifer.  By conserving today, we reduce energy consumption and sustainably manage our precious groundwater source.

Like all other municipalities in the Lower Mainland and most other municipalities in BC, Chilliwack will continue to implement summer watering restrictions to help reduce the high water utilization.

For more information on water conservation initiatives, visit our Water Conservation page.