Stage 1 water restrictions now in effect for Greater Vernon

May 17, 2023 | 5:20 PM

Greater Vernon water customers are being asked to cut back on their water use.

Stage 1 water restrictions were implemented Wednesday afternoon (May 17) by the Regional District of North Okanagan.

It affects all Greater Vernon Water customers in the City of Vernon, District of Coldstream and portions of RDNO Electoral Areas B, C, D and Spallumcheen.

Using just one of the two local water sources is a reason for the tighter restrictions.

“GVW turned the Kalamalka Lake Water source off on May 5 due to poor water quality caused by high turbidity during freshet,” Ashley Gregerson, communications officer for the RDNO, said.

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“GVW is now experiencing challenges meeting customer demand because we are only using the Duteau water source to supply all customers and there is higher-than-normal water use.”

Gregerson said while turning on the Kalamalka Lake water source would alleviate the water supply issue, there is a risk that a water quality advisory would be required.

“Staff are striving towards avoiding the community impacts associated with a water quality advisory by keeping the Kalamalka Lake water source off until turbidity levels are lower and stable. GVW needs your help reducing water use to avoid further system impacts and is issuing Stage 1 water restrictions.”

The RDNO is hoping to reduce water use by 10 per cent or more with the Stage 1 restrictions.

“Being water wise now and making small adjustments, such as only watering twice a week or cutting back your irrigation run time by 10 per cent, will help us avoid a water quality advisory,” Gregerson remarked.

Stage 1 Restrictions give customers the following options for which day (or days) they choose to water:

• Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Saturday if their property has an ODD ADDRESS NUMBER

• Wednesday, Friday, and/or Sunday if their property has an EVEN ADDRESS NUMBER

• NO YARD/GARDEN WATERING ON MONDAYS

• NO YARD/GARDEN WATERING BETWEEN 10 AM AND 7 PM ANY DAY

(Including drip irrigation)

The restrictions apply to all domestic customers – residential, commercial, and industrial. Customers using a watering can or hose with spring-loaded nozzle may hand water anytime.

Agricultural customers may continue to water within their allocation to maintain the health of their crops but are being asked to conserve wherever possible by monitoring for leaks and reducing watering during the heat of the day if possible.

They must also adhere to the maximum flow rate (0.78 litres per second per hectare of allocation). When customers exceed their flow rate, it can cause their neighbours to lose water pressure and create issues which impact the capacity and pressure in the system.

Greater Vernon Water is in the design phase of installing filtration at the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant, which will remove the turbidity and greatly assist in avoiding this situation in the future.

by Pete McIntyre

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