You’ve finally built your fairy-tale house. Now it’s time to settle into the bustling lifestyle of West Vancouver, so you’ll need to get acquainted with the most efficient way to use your utilities. 2015 was a dry year. Usually the region recovers quickly from droughts, but 2016 is an exception. Water restrictions will thus stretch to September and beyond. Residential water use will be capped at Stage 3, but you can help your community by aiming for efficient water usage even when restrictions are off the table. You can support water shortage efforts by:
- Running sprinklers on a schedule.
- Keeping sprinkler systems well maintained so that they don’t run longer than you intend.
- Installing a drip irrigation system that sends water directly into the soil, where trees need it, without evaporating.
- Only planting native plants.
Drainage
Your sewers’ greatest weakness is blockage. Flushing oily substances can create havoc for your drain. Simply disposing of grease and large items not intended for the toilet into the garbage instead will go far towards keeping your sewer and drains clear.
Trash and Recycling
Vancouver’s residents care enormously for the environment. West Vancouver alone sends 75% of its garbage for recycling. To serve such a large community of green-friendly homeowners, the garbage and recycling collection schedule is mapped out by colour so that you can easily keep track. Rates for garbage collection have remained static for three years, so you’re unlikely to be bogged down by inflation any time soon.
Like the recycling map, recycling bins are colour-coded. Grey is for glass, yellow is for paper, and blue is for rigid plastics. Don’t make the mistake of putting Styrofoam, plastic bags, and oily food boxes in your recycling bin. Contamination of recyclables renders them useless.
Bills
Water utility rates have been pushed up by 6%, with drainage and sewers raised by 10%. During Autumn, bills are paid for at off-peak rates, but during the dry season, the municipality pushes them up by approximately 25%. The current increases are the result of higher bulk water rates. Bills usually arrive in March.
Payment
Why stand in queues when you can pay from your living room over a cup of cocoa? Your metered utilities can be paid for via an auto debit plan, online banking, or through your bank’s brick and mortar facilities. West Vancouver is quickly catching up with the internet revolution, and now offers utility statements by email. If you’re ever confused, an online customer services representative will see to your concerns. The District of West Vancouver Financial Services Department can also be called if you have queries. They’ll be able to clarify how well your water saving efforts are going, giving you a month-by-month account of your usage.
Metro Vancouver is among the most organized provincial bodies in the country. Much of what it does has been digitized and information can be found with the click of a mouse, letting you use your ‘me’ time to relax in your new home.