Greater Vernon To Clear-Up Mixed Message on Water Supply

Water supplies are drying up in some BC communities, but not Greater Vernon.

Greater Vernon Water Manager Zee Marcolin says local reservoirs are in good shape for this time of year — so much so — that the current Stage 1 water restrictions could actually be eased top Normal.

That contrasts to a recent announcement by the province that many areas including the Okanagan were dealing with Stage 3 drought levels, and call for voluntary 30 percent water use reductions.

Water manager Zee Marcolin says they still urge people to use water wisely.

“We still want conservation, what people are doing now, but we are not in such a dire position that we don’t want any water being used outdoors.”

Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chair Juliette Cunningham says they are a leader in terms of drought management.

“We have a drought response plan that many communities don’t have, and it’s been working very well, and is going to be used as a model for the valley, so we have to get that message across to the province.”

Cunningham says it’s become clear the province’s one-size-fits-all drought plan doesn’t work for all communities.

GVAC director Jim Garlick says the provincial and local messages can be confusing to the public.

“Sometimes what happens is the province paints us all with one brush. They did that previously, where they were saying, you have to put these restrictions in place. But we’re saying, we’re not in same situation.”

Marcolin says RDNO staff will be issuing a news release to inform the public about the local water supply situation.

“It will say we are not in a level 3, and not in the same position as as the province.”