Water Conservation
節約用水(Chinese)
自動灑水器使用的管制

Metro Vancouver Lawn Sprinkling Regulations (2012)
Don't waste water on your lawn. But if you must water…
Lawn sprinkling regulations are in effect from June 1 to September 30.
Lawn Sprinkling is allowed only from 4 to 9 am on the following days:
Even-numbered residential addresses: Monday, Wednesday & Saturday
Odd-numbered residential addresses: Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday 

Lawn sprinkling: a key summer reduction
In summer demand for treated water almost doubles in the Lower Mainland (mostly due to outdoor use) at the same time that rainfall is the lowest. These restrictions help reduce the rate of water consumption and lower the risk of reservoir levels being depleted.

Purpose
The regulations restrict lawn sprinkling during the summer months to manage demand for drinking water. The lawn sprinkling regulations have been in place since 1993 and are part of the regional Water Shortage Response Plan that mostly outlines measures to reduce demand for outdoor use.

Exemptions
-Newly-planted lawns will be allowed to be watered outside of restricted times only with a special permit from your municipality
-Watering of flower and vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs and trees
-Filling of pools, spas, water play parks and fountains
-Washing of cars or boats using spring-loaded shutoff
-Sports playing fields and school yards
-Lawns at golf courses and turf farms
-Artificial turf requiring wetting and outdoor tracks requiring hosing for dust control or safety

The City of Vancouver will grant permits allowing you to irrigate new lawns beyond our summer restrictions for a period of three weeks. You can purchase these permits from our Client Service Centre on the ground floor of City Hall for $33.00 with proof of purchase of lawn seed or sod. Three weeks of suitable watering will be adequate for establishing a healthy new lawn.

If a total sprinkling ban is imposed then watering of vegetables, flowers and shrubs must be done by hand using containers or a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off. Drip irrigation systems are the most efficient method of watering cluster of plants and are exempt from sprinkling regulations.

There is no restriction for use hand-held water sprayer to water the lawn during off-hour.
 
Summer sprinkling regulations have been in place since 1993. These restrictions help reduce the rate of water consumption and lower the risk of reservoir levels being depleted. Each municipality enforces the sprinkling regulations and issues the violation fines within its boundaries.

The following residential water restrictions apply:
*Lawn sprinkling is prohibited, other than recently planted lawns by special permit.
*Hosing (including non-commercial pressure washing) of sidewalks, driveways and patios is prohibited.
*Flower and vegetable garden watering is only permitted by hand-held hose or containers.
*All hoses in use must be equipped with a spring-loaded shutoff device. Special permits for new lawns
*Special permits are available in each municipality to allow more frequent watering of newly planted lawns for a three-week period. Contact your local municipality for more information.

Natural lawn care tips
1. Most lawns don't need more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water per week. Typically, residential lawns only need one hour of sprinkling per week to stay healthy.
2. Water your lawn in the morning rather than in the evening to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. Residents with automatic irrigation systems should set them to operate between 4 and 6 a.m., when demand on the water system is low.
3. Aerate your lawn by punching holes in it about 12 centimeters apart to permit better absorption of water.
4. Rake in some compost and you'll improve moisture retention and reduce the need for fertilizer.
5. Reduce weeds to lessen the competition for water and fertilizer. Let your grass grow longer to create a healthier root system.

Sprinklers
Drip irrigation systems are the most efficient method of watering clusters of plants and are exempt from sprinkling regulations. Efficient sprinklers provide an even spray of large, fat drops, not a fine mist. Use devices (i.e., rain sensors, rain switches) that time or measure the amount of water that has been applied, and automatically shut off the supply when it is raining.

Watering your garden
Sprinkling restrictions do not affect vegetable and flower garden watering. You may water your garden as often as needed, but use a watering can or a hose with a spring-loaded, shut-off nozzle to reduce water waste.

Conserving water in your garden
Mulching is one of the best ways to conserve water. It also reduces erosion and discourages weeds. Spread grass clippings or other mulch materials around the base of plants and shrubs.

Applying organic matter (such as ground bark, animal manure, softwood sawdust, peat moss, leaves and wood or vegetable products) to soil increases its ability to hold water, and improves nutrient content.

Plant waterwise plants. By reducing lawn area or by incorporating drought-tolerant plants that need less water, gardeners can help conserve water during hot, dry summer months. Small leaves, fat leaves, grey leaves, and fuzzy leaves are all indicators of drought-hardy plants.

節約用水

水為自然的禮物經常被視為當然。通常河谷被淹水作為儲水的湖泊，如卡皮蘭諾湖。在我們地區，每人每天使用六百公升水。在一個七月的熱天，大溫哥華居民與商家使用高達二十億公升水。你的日常行為可以節約許多用水：
1.當刷牙時，關掉水龍頭：每分鐘節約用水十二公升。
2.修好漏水馬桶：每天節約用水一百五十公升水。
3.修好漏水水龍頭：每個月節約用水六個滿浴缸。
4.沖澡少於五分鐘：節約用水一百公升水。
5.每星期草坪澆水一次：節約用水1,300公升。

溫室效應、臭氧層破壞和酸雨，使得已經惡化之水資源更惡化。
溫度日漸升高，乾旱地區將更擴大。
為了緩和溫室效應，保護水資源會越來越重要。

以下這些步驟能保護寶貴的水資源：

洗碗、洗澡、淋浴時，不用水時就不要開水龍頭。
-> 浪費的家用水中有一半以上是從水龍頭白白流掉的。
看緊水龍頭就能有效省水。
立刻修理漏水的水龍頭。
--> 一般水龍頭漏水一個小時，會漏掉7.6公升的水

如果住家附近之井水或泉水不合標準，應該過濾自來水。
飲用過濾的水比較健康，也因為沒有浪費自來水而收省水之效。
美國國家安全協會 (National Safelty Associates) 有一種頗划算的 過濾系統，採用活性碳來過濾，可以濾掉氯、有機化學物質、氣味和土壤味，過濾1公升的水只要花費0.4元，容易安裝，而且沒有維修的煩惱。美國環保署也把它列入管制和監控。
其次，避免使用蒸餾水，因為蒸餾水在製造過程中，往往會把水中營養的物質一併過濾掉。

只有在必要時和晚上時才給草坪澆水，可以減少水分蒸發和省水。
用省水型馬桶(低水流或氣援式抽水馬桶)。
--> 這類抽水馬桶可以節省60％到90％的馬桶用水。

洗衣時，儘量集中，滿水洗一次。可以少用電，也可以少用水。
避免使用一用即用丟的商品(如刮鬍刀)，或多用幾次再丟。
使用不漂白、不染色、不含螢光劑、無香味、以生級漿製的衛生用品。

切勿把廢食用油、廢機油，不用的油漆、溶劑往水槽倒。
應交給回收店(站)處理。
少用有強腐蝕性的清潔劑、通劑。除了污染問題，強酸、鹼物也會損壞化糞池的生物分解能力。注意它們所標示的使用方法、急救方法。不要隨意把不同的東西混合。若標示不清楚，則拒買、拒用。

購買、選擇用水效率高的設備與產品。 
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請勿於草地浪費用水(Lawn Sprinkling)
可長遠發展的地區方案… 把構思化作行動

6月至9月的用水需求量，差不多是平時的雙倍。然而在這些夏季的日子裡，大溫地區的降雨量是最低，令水庫的存水量下降。
減少戶外用水及遵守夏季灑水規定，可以幫助大溫地區節省寶貴食水。
如需要更多有關水庫的最新資料，請瀏覽：www.metrovancouver.org  (搜尋Lawn Sprinkling)
節省涓滴由你開始！

溫哥華都會區住宅區草地自動灑水(sprinkling)於6月1日到9月30日期間限制(2012)
雙數門牌號碼住宅：只能在星期一、三、六上午4時至9時的時段自動灑水
單數門牌號碼住宅：只能在星期二、四、日上午4時至9時的時段自動灑水

違規者可能被開罰單

可以灑水的例外：新的草地(需要許可證)、所有園藝花草樹叢、任何時間人工灑水

草地及花園護理提示：
-只在有需要時灑水。大部分草地每星期只需2.5 厘米水量，可用自動灑水器每星期噴灑一次。
-讓草地在夏季歇息，棕色是護理草地的新綠。
-每星期一次在清晨時分灑水，減少水分蒸發。
-將剪下來的草碎覆蓋在草坪上，這樣可以減少蒸發及灑水。
-將枯草堆肥平均分佈在草地上，為草地提供天然養分。
-盡可能在9月中旬至10月中旬種植新草坪。
-可向你居住地區的市政府申請付費許可證為新鋪草地作為期3周在限制時段以外灑水。

....若有觸犯遭受告發，可能會遭受到每次75元的罰金....

每年的夏季，由於大溫地區有缺水的顧慮，負責供水的大溫管理局都會發布灑水器的管制規定，今年也不例外，從六月一日起到九月三十日止

溫哥華都會區管理局即日起實施新的限水規定，
大溫哥華居民每人每天使用580 公升的水，比全加拿大人平均多四分之一。其中有450 公升用在家裡，等於三個盛滿水浴缸的水量。長久以來居民不知道節約用水，父母任意用水的習慣，顯然成為子女不良的榜樣。大溫哥華的人口增加很快，為了我們下一代仍然能保有這塊樂土，節約用水應該從你我即日做起。雖然有足夠的飲用水，但不應該浪費太多水來淹沒草地或是用來清洗車道。草地每周只需一小時的噴水就已足夠了。

另外，大溫都會局亦有就夏季草地及花園護理給出幾點參考提示，
民眾可登入： www.metrovancouver.org  參考。

另外還有些民眾應注意的事項：
•包括埋設在草地、花園、菜圃下的自動灑水系統在內，也都在這次限制令涵蓋範圍內。
•民眾雖仍可持澆水筒或水管澆淋花園、菜圃，但水管前必須裝有可控制開關的噴灑頭。
•民眾也不得打開自動灑水器(sprinkler)供孩童嬉戲，否則同樣會遭到罰款。家長若要玩水，不妨選擇充水氣球、水槍或泳池。
•民眾只有在確有需要時才得以洗車，在清洗之際所使用的水管也必須安裝有可控制開關的噴灑頭，不得放任水流。民眾也若使用海棉沾肥皂水來清洗，則更可省水。

這個用水的特殊規定都已經納入每個市政府的單行法規，若有觸犯遭受告發，可能受到每次 75 元的罰金。

無止境的使用自動灑水器澆水，只會造成過於潮濕而增加青苔成長與土質變酸的機會，專家說，其實草坪所需的水量不多，每週只要確實用灑水器澆上足足一小時，約有12.5公分量計的水量已經足夠。

民眾節約用水的方式
除了遵循限水規定，減少給草地灑水、洗車和清洗車道之外，亦可參考卑詩省水質、土地及空氣保護廳所提供的以下省水建議：

*在浴廁內：刷牙或刮鬍子時，勿開著水龍頭讓水白流；縮短淋浴的時間；安裝低流量的蓮蓬頭；安裝新型省水馬桶 (馬桶用水量佔室內用水量的四成，新型馬桶的用水量僅為舊式馬桶的五分之一 )；勿將馬桶當作垃圾桶；以省水裝置改裝舊式馬桶 (如在儲水槽中安放磚塊以省水 )；檢查馬桶有無漏水 (可在儲水槽中放入食物顏料，看儲水槽內的水有無漏到馬桶中 )，並更換老舊零件。

 *廚房和洗衣房中：洗衣機和洗碗機宜裝滿了再用，或用手洗碗；在盆子裡洗蔬果，勿在水龍頭下沖洗；洗菜盆內用過的水可用以澆花；若要飲用涼水，勿開著水龍頭，等其流出涼水再接，應放瓶水在冰箱裡供飲用；更換水龍頭的橡皮環，以免其滴水不停。