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Commercial power washing OK at Stage 2: Port Coquitlam

Port Coquitlam city council will follow the rest of the region when it comes to water restrictions this year.
power washing

Port Coquitlam will follow the rest of the region when it comes to water restrictions this year.

On Monday, Coun. Laura Dupont sought to change the Metro Vancouver water shortage response plan by having a clause taken out.

Dupont asked PoCo council to remove the Metro portion that would allow commercial cleaning services to use water for aesthetic cleaning at Stage 2.

"Water is too vital to use for aesthetic purposes," she contended.

Coun. Darrell Penner concurred, saying it would be unfair to ban residents but not businesses.

But Mayor Greg Moore, chair of the Metro Vancouver board, said while he agreed — and raised the same argument before the regional authority — he didn't want to see an inconsistent policy.

"The system falls apart" when municipalities apply different rules, he said, adding, "We have to be consistent in the delivery of this."

PoCo council defeated Dupont's motion and passed three readings of the city's bylaw amendment, which also aligns with Metro's changes to activate water restrictions from May 15 to Oct. 15 (instead of June 1 to Sept. 30) and to allow previously approved lawn sprinkling exemption permits to remain valid — a move to combat the chafer beetle infestation.

jwarren@tricitynews.com