Stage one watering restrictions start May 1

Metro Vancouver announces water plans

IAN JACQUES ijacques@delta-optimist com

Seasonal regulations that limit lawn watering for Metro Vancouver homes and businesses to once per week will come into effect on May 1, in an effort to conserve the region’s drinking water for the hot, dry months ahead.

“We are increasingly seeing variable weather patterns due to climate change, and we can’t always count on rainfall to replenish our water supply when we need it,” said Delta Mayor and Metro board chair George Harvie in a news release. “Last year ’ s dry fall resulted in an extension to lawn watering regulations and reinforced that good conservation habits by all residents and businesses are an important part of how we will continue to meet our region’s drinking water needs”

Residents and businesses will be permitted to water lawns one morning per week during stage one of the Drinking Water Conservation Plan, with designated days determined by property address and type Trees, shrubs, and flowers may be watered in the morning when using a sprinkler, or any time when hand watered or using drip irrigation. Edible plants are exempt from the regulations Lawn watering regulations will be in place May 1 to Oct 15

If there is a need to move to stage two during the summer, the public will be notified and lawn watering will not be permitted at all for residential and non-residential properties

Stage one residential lawn watering allowed:

Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays automatic watering between 5 and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 and 9 a m

Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays automatic watering between 5 and 7 a.m., and manual watering between 6 and 9 a m

Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 5 and 9 a.m. or any time by hand or using drip irrigation.

Stage one non-residential lawn watering allowed:

Even-numbered addresses: Mondays automatic watering between 4 and 6 a m , and manual watering between 6 and 9 a.m.

Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays automatic watering between 4 and 6 a m , and manual watering between 6 and 9 a.m.

Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered with a sprinkler any day between 4 and 9 a m , or any time by hand or using drip irrigation

These restrictions do not apply to the use of rain water, grey water, any forms of recycled water, or other sources of water outside the regional and municipal drinking water supply system Member jurisdictions enforce watering restrictions through local bylaws

TB Vets Charitable Foundation has made a generous gift of $15,000 towards a Glidescope for the emergency department at the Delta Hospital Campus of Care through Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation (DHCHF)

A Glidescope is a tool urgently needed by medical staff for intubating critically ill patients that have stopped breathing or cannot breathe on their own. In critical situations where seconds count, this tool is used to help patients suffering from cardiac arrests, congestive heart failure, trauma, anaphylactic shock and endoscopy traumas.

According to the Foundation, the video technology of the Glidescope allows phy- sicians and respiratory therapists to visualize the larynx and create a direct line of sight to the airway. The device has a 60-degree angulation that allows a greater field of view, which facilitates navigation to the glottis This is crucial because a physician or respiratory therapist can only make three attempts at intubation the conventional way before they must attempt alternative critical strategies

“We are so thankful for TB Vets and their long history of helping fund priority equipment at the Delta Hospital campus and across British Columbia,” says Lisa Hoglund, DNCHF executive director

Since 1946, TB Vets has distributed more than $16 million in fund- across the province for urgent respiratory equipment, education