Good news on climate change: We're using a lot less water

Good news on climate change: We're using a lot less water

Conservation measures credited

Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun

Published: Friday, August 10, 2007

Amid global warming's threat to our water supply -- extreme bouts of rain in winter, followed by drought in summer -- the Greater Vancouver Regional District has some good news that's easy to swallow: People are using significantly less water.

A progress report on the GVRD's drinking water management plan shows that average per-capita consumption dropped to 559 litres per day in 2006 from 728 litres in 1986.

The drop is so great that the startup date for the second intake system at the Coquitlam reservoir has been delayed to 2018 or later from an estimated 2014.