The City of Richmond is softening up watering restrictions this summer to allow for residents to protect their lawns against the ravages of the European chafer beetle.
In recognition that the seasons are becoming more varied and unpredictable, the city has loosened the window during which a water use restriction permit can be issued in the event of someone using the biological “nematode” control method.
Instead of restricting said permit from July 15 to August 15, people can now apply for the permit for a period of 21 days, anytime Stage 1 and 2 water restrictions are in place.
The nematode application — which complies with the City of Richmond’s pesticide use bylaw — encourages a type of roundworm in the lawn, which are parasitic to the chafer beetles.
However, to find the beetle grubs, the nematodes require a moist lawn throughout the treatment to be effective, hence the adjustment to the watering restrictions.
City staff’s recommendation to replace the former nematode application timeframe (July 15 to August 15) with the 21-day window was approved unanimously by city council’s public works and transportation committee on Wednesday.
The move, according to a city staff report, brings Richmond into line with Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and Delta.
Answering a question from Coun. Linda McPhail, city staff said that around 50 water restriction permits were issued last year.
Staff also told committee chair Coun. Chak Au that people applying for the new permit would have to provide proof of purchase of the nematode application from a nursery.
Coun. Harold Steves, meanwhile, told the committee to brace for an exceptionally hot summer.
“The last time we had a winter like that was in ‘97/’98 and the roads at our ranch were cut off, due to the rains,” said Steves, also a lifelong farmer.
“We then ended up with the driest summer ever. So we need to be prepared.”
Last summer, the city came down hard on water wasters during a record-setting heatwave — to the tune of $208,200 in fines.
On the back of 50 written warnings, a total of 407 violation tickets at $500 each were issued, mostly in August, by city bylaw officers during Stage 3, which banned lawn sprinkling of any kind.
Earlier in the summer, eight warnings and 15 tickets at $200 each were handed out during Stage 2 (sprinkling once a week allowed) and 12 warnings and 17 tickets at $100 each during Stage 1 (three days a week, mornings only). More than 1,300 investigations were carried out during the season and the city’s hard-hitting approach during the more severe hot weather could rake in more than $200,000 in fines, depending on how many of the offenders pay up.
This year, despite a cool and damp spring, Metro Vancouver started to enforce its annual lawn watering regulations in Richmond and across the region this week and will run until Oct 15.
The restrictions are in place to help conserve Metro Vancouver’s high-quality, treated drinking water and ensure sufficient water is available through to the fall rainy season.
