B.C. drought: Metro Vancouver water use dropping, but reservoirs still low

Water usage rates in Metro Vancouver have finally dropped below target levels, following additional restrictions that were put in place earlier this week. 

"I think people are getting the message," said Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee Chair Darrell Mussatto.

On Monday, the region implemented Stage 3 water restrictions, which include a complete ban on watering lawns, washing vehicles, and pressure washing.

By Wednesday, residents of Metro Vancouver used less water than the target amount of 1.2 billion litres per day. 

Local reservoirs are still at 69 per cent capacity, but Mussatto says if residents keep consumption at its current level there will be enough water to make it to fall, even without any rain.

Rain no match for low reservoir levels

Mussato said even though this morning's rain is good news for local reservoirs, we're still far from normal levels.

"If we get five millimetres today that's a good thing, but we need well over 140 to 150 millimetres to have reservoirs back to where they should be," said Mussatto. 

Which means that the Stage 3 watering restrictions are still in place.