Why Vancouverites need to stop treating their water supply like a 'buffet'

Vancouver is known for rain and snow-capped mountains, both of which supply the city's water reservoirs. But as climate change continues to alter weather patterns and reduce rainfall, the supplywill dwindle and Uytae Lee is thirsty for action to be taken now.

Lee, a columnist with CBC's The Early Editionwith a background in urban design, told host Stephen Quinnthat research from Metro Vancouvershows the snowpack on the mountains surrounding the city is predicted to shrink by 56 per cent by 2050, and the region can expect 13 per cent less rainfall in the summer by the end of the century.

Metro Vancouver is also predicting another onemillion people will arrive in the region by 2050 and predicts a water "supply gap"by 2030.

For these reasons, said Lee, Vancouveritesmust be more conservative with their water usage.

"A key part of our water problem in Vancouver is we treat our water supply like a buffet," said Lee.

Watch Lee's short film on climate change and Metro Vancouver's water supply

He said one solution is to install water meters on Vancouver homes similar to hydro meters that can record residential water usage. According to Lee, only sixper cent of homes in the city currently have a meterinstalled.

Other suggestions Lee put forward to help residents conserve water includeinstalling low-flush toilets, not washing your carand not purchasing a sprinkler, which Lee said isoften left on too long.

In addition to the three main sourcereservoirs Capilano, Seymour and CoquitlamMetro Vancouver has 22 in-system reservoirs throughout the region, including the Little Mountain Reservoir, whichholds approximately 177 million litres of water.

Lee said raising the height of Metro Vancouverdams to increase the amount of water that reservoirs can holdor getting water from other sources, like the Fraser River,are options to consider in the long termbut will cost "billions of dollars".

Water usage in Vancouver has "stayed flat" for almost the past 20 years, Lee says, creditingpublic awareness campaigns and energy-efficient building designs. But he says the "key issue" is still that individuals are not aware of how much water they are usingbecause they pay a flat rate and "then use as much as they want."

"We hear all the time, Vancouver is rainy, why does a place like this need water restrictions?," said Lee.

It's becauserainy summerdays are becoming rarer and the reservoirs will be emptier and it'sno longer enough "to cross our fingers and hope it lasts through fall," he said.

To hear the complete interview with Stephen Quinn and Uytae Leeclick on the audio link below.