Summer Watering Restrictions

• 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, townhouses, and stratas follow complex addresses, not individual unit numbers.

New unestablished lawns require a Water Restriction 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].

• 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

Why should we follow water restrictions and conserve water?

The City of Chilliwack’s water conservation plan is designed to ensure there is enough water for non-discretionary uses (like drinking, showering, toilet flushing, and laundry) during the summer months when we are more prone to drought conditions. Following water conservation strategies helps keep the level of the Sardis-Vedder Aquifer high and reduces the risk of moving to the next conservation stage later in the summer.

By conserving water today, we reduce energy consumption and sustainably manage our precious groundwater source.

Can I pressure wash my driveway, sidewalk, or exterior building surface?

During Stage 1, residents are allowed to wash impermeable surfaces, using handheld containers or a hose with a spring-loaded shut off nozzle.

I have a business that relies on pressure washing. Do these restrictions mean I can’t pressure wash for business purposes?

During Stage 1 restrictions, it is required to use handheld containers or a hose with a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle for washing. Additional restrictions apply during subsequent stages of watering restrictions.

Where do I leave a complaint about someone violating the watering restrictions?

You can contact the City of Chilliwack Engineering Department at 604-793-2907 or [email protected] with the following details:

• Your contact information and name
• Address where violation occurred
• Time and date of violation
• Device utilized for watering

Can I water my garden, flowers, shrubs, or trees without a sprinkler?

Stage 1 restrictions allow watering any time of the day using handheld containers, a hose with a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle, a soaker hose or drip irrigation.

When should I sprinkle my lawn?

During the Stage 1 restrictions, lawn sprinkling is permitted twice a week. All even addresses are permitted to water on Wednesday and Saturday from 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm, and all odd addresses are permitted to water on Thursday and Sunday from 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm. Apartments, townhouses, and stratas follow complex addresses, not individual unit numbers. Additional restrictions apply during subsequent stages of watering restrictions. Please remember to ensure that your sprinkler is positioned properly. Watering sidewalks, driveways, and roadways wastes treated drinking water.

Why 5 - 8 am and 7 - 10 pm?

Watering between 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm helps prevent water from being wasted due to evaporation. There is also the potential of burning your grass outside of these hours if it is a sunny day.

I just installed new sod. Can I water it?

It is recommended to install new sod or seed during the spring or fall months in order to establish sufficient roots which will reduce the lawn dependency on surface watering for the summer. However, residents can apply for a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate to water new sod or seeded lawns during water restrictions.

A Water Restriction Exemption Certificate allows watering any day between 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm during Stage 1 water restrictions. During Stage 2 water restrictions, watering new lawns is allowed only between 5 - 8 am. Watering outside of these times may result in the revocation of the certificate and a fine.

Is it necessary to have a receipt for attaining a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate?

A receipt for the new sod or seed remains a necessary document for applying the Water Restriction Exemption Certificate. To apply for a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate, it is important to email [email protected] and include the following documents:

• Receipt (for new sod or seed)
• Photo of new sod/seeded lawn
• Name
• Address
• Phone Number

Can I wash my outdoor vehicle or boat?

Residents can use a handheld container or a hose equipped with a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle for washing. Additionally, it is recommended to wash vehicles and boats over grass or gravel.

If a house owner is away during the assigned watering day, will they be allowed to water their lawn on the alternate days?

No, residents are only allowed to water on their permitted days. All even addresses are permitted to water on Wednesday and Saturday from 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm and all odd addresses are permitted to water on Thursday and Sunday from 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm.

Will spray parks remain open?

During the Stage 1 restrictions, spray parks remain open. Many residents with children who have no air conditioning at home rely on our spray parks during the hot weather for a place to cool off and the City of Chilliwack continues to provide that service. 

Can children still play in the sprinkler (i.e., recreational use of water)?

During Stage 1 restrictions, the use of sprinklers for recreational use is permitted, provided action is being taken to avoid wasting water during the activity. One strategy to avoid water waste is to use the sprinkler recreationally over a lawn or permeable surface. Sprinklers should be turned off immediately after use and are not permitted to remain on following recreational use.

Do the watering restrictions apply to private wells?

The City’s watering restrictions apply only to the users of water supplied by the municipal water system; however, the City encourages private well owners to consider maximizing water conservation efforts. Water is a shared resource that needs to be managed responsibly by everyone. Private wells and surface water intakes require a Water Licence through the BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship. Formal restrictions on use would be issued by the Government of BC.

Can I withdraw water from a creek?

Any water removal from a creek or other watercourse requires a Water Licence through the BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, under the Water Sustainability Act. During drought conditions, creeks throughout the Lower Mainland can have low levels. Since many of the watercourses in Chilliwack are fish-bearing, the low water conditions stress the salmon and other fish that rely on the watercourses, so it is important that no unauthorized water removals take place.  

If I pay my taxes, why can’t I water my lawn whenever I want?

The water system is a separate user pay utility that is not funded by the property tax system.  During the water conservation period all users should maximize their water conservation efforts.

Why are municipal playing fields exempt from the regulation?

Most playing fields are constructed on a sand base for better drainage.  The turf will die if it is not watered regularly. The cost of replacement for total loss and rendering fields unusable during the summer and through the winter season and into subsequent years would be excessively high. 

Why are City-maintained landscaped beds and trees in boulevards and medians exempt from the regulation?

City flower beds and grass medians are exempt from water restrictions because they are designed to provide efficient drainage and require frequent watering. Sprinkler timing and positioning are continuously evaluated to eliminate the waste of water. Furthermore, these areas are fire sensitive due to public smoking and therefore the City needs to keep them moist to avoid fire hazards.

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