Water Protection and Conservation

New Westminster’s fish bearing watercourses include the Fraser and Brunette rivers – home to salmonid and non-salmonid species. Localized water quality degradation (e.g. from contaminants) in and along or near upstream areas in the City and adjacent municipalities may affect aquatic life and limit fish production. Destruction and alteration of foreshore habitat and riparian clearing in and around watercourses (including a few in Queensborough) may limit the capability of these areas to support aquatic life and provide fish habitat.

The City of New Westminster is committed to protecting or enhancing the quality of its water resources and encouraging water conservation with its citizens. Check out the programs and policies around water protection and conservation that the City is currently undertaking.

Check out “Environment and the Riverfront” in the City’s OCP.

Additional information about water conservation can be found on the
Metro Vancouver’s website.

Watercourse and Riparian Area Protection

The Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) is a provincial policy directive which came into effect on March 31, 2006. Its intent is to protect riparian areas and the natural features and functions that support fish life processes. RAR affects local governmental approvals for new residential, commercial and industrial developments around watercourses considered fish habitat. The approaches to protect riparian areas around watercourses in New Westminster include the following:

Fraser River: The Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP) will continue to oversee development applications for environmental review along the shoreline of the Fraser River.

Brunette Creek: For development applications in areas around Brunette Creek, a default 30 metre setback on both sides of the river (to top of bank) will be established. Development applications within the 30 metre setback will require assessment by a qualified environmental professional (QEP).

Queensborough Ditches. Guidelines were created related to development and work activities around the various constructed watercourses on Queensborough. A number of ditches are subject to RAR (see map).

Did you know?
The province is providing a consistent approach to addressing the potential impact of residential, commercial and industrial activity on the riparian fish habitat. For more information on the RAR, please visit the BC Government website.

Water Conservation Initiatives

Lawn and garden watering accounts for the largest portion of residential water use in the summer – water demand can be up to 60% higher in the summer than in the winter. Reducing water use for lawn sprinkling purposes during peak periods helps to ensure a sufficient water supply in the summer and can defer the need for system upgrades to the water supply infrastructure. In order to conserve our region’s water supply, New Westminster supports Metro Vancouver’s (GVRD) Water Shortage Response plan by enforcing the region’s sprinkling regulations according to the City’s Water Shortage Response Bylaw.

Lawn Sprinkling Regulations

Lawn sprinkling regulations are in effect from June 1 to September 30. Lawn Sprinkling is allowed only from 4am - 9am and 7pm - 10pm on the following days:

Even-numbered addresses: Wednesday & Saturday
Odd-numbered addresses: Thursday & Sunday

Residents can play their part in water conservation by storing rain water and using it to water plants and gardens. The City offers residents a 75 gallon plastic rain barrel for capturing and storing rain water at their homes. The barrels can be purchased from Engineering Operations (604-526-4691). Click here for more information on the rain barrel program.

Check out New Westminster's Water conservation and composting brochure (pdf)

Check out Metro Vancouver’s “Tips for Water Smart Home & Yard Care" or the Rain Barrel Guide.

Combined Sewer Overflow Management

When rainstorms hit New Westminster, the combined sewers (sanitary and storm) in the city often do not have the capacity to carry all the wastewater from homes to the region’s treatment plants. As a result, sewage from the combined sewer overflows (CSO) unavoidably enters receiving watercourses – namely the Fraser or Brunette Rivers.

The City of New Westminster has been replacing its combined sewers – an older type of collection system – with separate pipe systems (wastewater and stormwater). This process is a costly, long-range project that results in a replacement rate of only 1% annually. 

In 2005, the City partnered with Metro Vancouver (GVRD) in an initiative to create a tank (CSO tank) that would receive combined sewer overflows from the west end side of the City. The tank, which is a 20,000 cubic meter volume storage facility, was designed to address the CSO problem in that area by collecting large quantities of wastewater (e.g. during large rainfall events) and storing it until a time when the treatment plants can handle the additional load. This CSO tank aims to reduce combined sewer overflows in the City by 30%!

Did you know?
CSO Building wins "green" award! Visit the Metro Vancouver website to watch a video on the construction of a CSO tank (Episode 21).