Environment and Climate Change Canada is predicting hot and dry conditions will continue on B.C.’s South Coast as summer officially begins this weekend. More than two dozen communities across the province experienced their warmest June 14 on record Sunday, according to the weather agency. Next Sunday marks the first official day of summer, and Environment Canada is anticipating similar weather patterns in the weeks and months ahead. “We’re not going into summer in optimal conditions,” said Brian Proctor, Environment Canada meteorologist. “Our seasonal forecast for the summer months really suggests that continuation of warm and dry conditions, especially over the inner South Coast.” Residents urged to comply with restrictions Regional authorities have set a water-use target of less than 1.4 billion litres per day in Metro Vancouver this summer, slightly lower than the peak daily summer use of roughly 1.5 billion litres recorded last summer. Part of the rationale for the restrictions and lower use target is the ongoing Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel Project, which began in October 2025. With hot and dry conditions over the weekend, officials urged the public to conserve water. Metro Vancouver says water use remained below the 1.4-billion daily target Sunday, coming in at just over 1.3 billion litres. However, residents are still being asked to remain vigilant. “We are a little bit concerned at the steepness of the curve going up because the warm weather really drives the demand, it really drives that outdoor demand,” said Linda Parkinson, director of policy, planning and analysis for Metro Vancouver Water Services. Stage 3 water restrictions are in effect across the region, prohibiting lawn watering and restricting the use of water for hydrating trees and gardens, filling pools and hot tubs, and washing surfaces, vehicles and boats. Full details of the restrictions are available on Metro Vancouver’s website. Surrey issues own restrictions under local bylaw While Metro Vancouver sets regional restrictions, municipalities can adopt bylaws establishing their own water conservation measures. In Surrey, the city remains at Stage 2 restrictions after amending its water conservation bylaw in May. The bylaw states the city has the authority to activate water restriction stages based on local conditions. Parkinson said that while Surrey is within its rights to do so, it is often better when municipalities are aligned. “The idea with the regional policy is that we’re all doing the same thing and working together when it comes to restrictions, because it avoids confusion as well for residents and businesses,” she said. In a statement to CTV News, Surrey’s engineering department said the city “considers water conservation a critical priority,” and has “adopted a strategic and targeted approach to managing these resources while balancing the needs of our community.” “The city’s water conservation bylaw aligns with the region by prohibiting lawn watering, which is the highest outdoor use, and other aspects such as filling aesthetic water features, while allowing residents to fill pools and use misting stations for heat respite, and allowing businesses to irrigate lawns and plants required as a condition of new home construction building permits,” the engineering department said. Bylaw officers are out in the community providing education and enforcement, while officials monitor the region’s water levels on a daily basis, according to the city. “This continual monitoring ensures Surrey remains well prepared to adapt and potentially implement further restrictions if required,” the statement added. With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Ian Holliday and Kaija Jussinoja.
