The pool parties are on in Surrey, leaving those in neighbouring communities to sweat it out and watch their lawns brown and vehicles get dusty, thanks to an unprecedented decision by Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke to buck regional district water restrictions.

Citing a snowpack at 20 per cent of normal conditions, already dry conditions and a summer forecast that expects little reprieve, Metro Vancouver announced June 8 the implementation of Stage 3 water restrictions. These are the most extreme restrictions before emergency Stage 4 measures are put in place to maintain critical water pressure.

All of Metro Vancouver’s 23 jurisdictions have since followed district direction with the exception of Surrey.

According to staff and Metro Vancouver board chair Mike Hurley this is the first time in history a jurisdiction has gone rogue.

“I’m a bit shocked and bewildered because at the board we all made this decision based on our experts, and I rely on them,” said Hurley of Locke’s decision.

Last month, Surrey city council approved amendments to its water use bylaw essentially loosening restrictions, such as by allowing more time to water lawns.

Then, Surrey failed to follow suit with Metro Vancouver’s announcement and remained under its own Stage 2 restrictions.

Key differences for Surrey residents include being allowed to fill backyard pools, water new lawns, pressure wash homes and clean vehicles with a handheld hose.

Locke did not respond to questions from Business in Vancouver. 

But Locke told media this week that the decision was based on city staff assessments of local water levels, including an assertion that Surrey draws water from different sources.

Locke said Surrey does not draw water from the Stanley Park water supply tunnel, which is under renovations and thus, according to Hurley, a “small” additional concern this summer for maintaining water pressure.

“It’s got nothing to do with Surrey’s water supply,” said Hurley.

“I don’t understand … It’s all one system,” added Hurley, the mayor of Burnaby.

According to Metro Vancouver, the system is interconnected and all three of its reservoirs are used to disperse water from the University of British Columbia to Langley.

According to an emailed statement from the city’s engineering department, headed by David Matsubara, Surrey derives its water “primarily” from the Coquitlam Lake reservoir.

It’s unclear what data Surrey is using as compared to Metro Vancouver. But federal hydrometric data for Cedar Creek at the Coquitlam Lake reservoir—closest to Surrey—shows water level and discharge at “much below normal” and less than the 10th percentile. The water level is only slightly above August 2025, or peak summer, readings.

The district’s Drinking Water Conservation Plan was adopted more than 30 years ago, but it operates on a de facto honour system.

“Since the plan was first implemented, members have been able to interpret and implement the regional policy through local bylaws, which they are responsible for enforcing,” Linda Parkinson, director of policy, planning and analysis for water services, told BIV via email.

“To date, this approach has served the region well, with members recognizing that it is a shared system and they are all responsible for reducing water use when the restrictions are in effect,” added Parkinson.

Hurley said Surrey is testing the longstanding regional ethos of regional cooperation. Legally speaking: “Metro does not have any teeth to deal with that; we rely on our cities working together,” he said.

“This is definitely out of the normal and we’ll have to see in the future how to manage this going forward,” he added.

Over her term since being elected mayor in 2022 Locke has challenged Metro Vancouver policies as jurisdictional overreach, arguing Surrey is being short changed on affordable housing and overcharged on fees related to infrastructure.

Under Locke, Surrey has also pushed to expand the urban containment boundary to build more homes and industrial parks, despite the boundary being in place to provide regional green space and flood protections.

Last April, the city’s Locke-led council passed a motion for a public inquiry of Metro Vancouver governance.

Surrey also filed a lawsuit against Metro Vancouver to get out of Invest Vancouver, the region’s economic development branch.

Asked if Locke’s water fight is in line with this series of challenges to the district, Hurley said he did not want to speculate.

“I just know it’s very strange for me,” said Hurley.

Locke also told media she heard from businesses and residents concerned about water restrictions.

Hurley said he hears the same concerns but has no plan to follow in Surrey’s steps.

[email protected]

BIV’s free newsletters cover daily business, real estate, B.C. politics and more. Sign up here for B.C.’s most important business news delivered directly to your inbox.