Metro Vancouver adopts 10-year water strategy emphasizing demand management over supply expansion

Metro Vancouver adopts 10-year water strategy emphasizing demand management over supply expansionThe newly approved Drinking Water Management Plan encourages member municipalities to advance water metering and leak reduction programs, responding to First Nations' calls to prioritize conservation before expanding regional supply infrastructure.

The Water Committee approved the non-regulatory 2026 Drinking Water Management Plan to guide the region's utility for the next decade.

Following member feedback, the plan "encourages" rather than mandates residential water metering to help achieve demand reduction targets.

First Nations stakeholders strongly advocated for advancing universal metering to curb the region's per capita consumption before pursuing new supply projects.

Metro Vancouver reports a low 2% unaccounted-for water rate across its bulk transmission system and plans to expand bulk metering to improve water audits.

Metro Vancouver's Water Committee has approved the final draft of its 2026 Drinking Water Management Plan, setting the strategic direction for the supply of drinking water to over three million residents over the next ten years. A central pillar of the non-regulatory plan is deferring large-scale supply capacity expansions by optimizing existing infrastructure through aggressive demand management. During the March 11 meeting, Linda Parkinson, Director of Policy, Planning and Analysis for Water Services, explained that the plan centers on conservation, leak reduction, and operational workforce development to ensure cost-effective system management. Residential water metering emerged as a significant focal point during the plan's consultation phases. First Nations engaged in the process strongly advocated for universal metering to reduce the region's high per capita consumption before any new supply projects are considered. However, following feedback from member jurisdictions concerned about implementation costs and local constraints, the final plan utilizes more flexible language, stating that members are "encouraged" to progress metering rather than facing prescriptive mandates. During the meeting, Vice Chair Mark Sager expressed strong support for transitioning communities to metered water, noting that West Vancouver already meters every home and penalizes users for major leaks. Rob Stutt, representing Surrey, added that his municipality has already achieved approximately 80% residential metering compliance alongside a strong educational program. Addressing committee questions on system losses, Parkinson confirmed that Metro Vancouver's unaccounted-for water rate across its bulk transmission network is currently around 2%. To maintain and improve this efficiency, the plan includes actions to replace existing billing meters and expand the network of non-billing bulk meters to enhance regional water audits. Committee members also highlighted emerging climate pressures that could eventually strain the regional supply network. Delta representative Alicia Guichon noted that agricultural producers are increasingly relying on Metro Vancouver's metered water for drip irrigation during peak summer months, as the Fraser River experiences higher salt levels due to lower snowpacks. Similarly, Langley City representative Paul Albrecht raised concerns about future supply pressures from residents currently on private well water, as local aquifers become negatively impacted by climate change. The plan will proceed to the Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) Board for final approval on March 27, after which Metro Vancouver will coordinate with member jurisdictions to implement the targeted actions.