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By Kate Bouey
Smoky Skies Had Impact On Water Use

Smoky Skies Had Impact On Water Use

Aug 31, 2018 | 8:45 AM

All the smoke we suffered from earlier this month has had one side benefit.

Greater Vernon Water reports local people have cut the amount of water they usually use in their gardens.

“The folks in Vernon and Coldstream are have been lowering their water demand, so that’s always nice for us to see in late August so that we have a good supply going into the fall,” says Jennifer Miles of Greater Vernon Water.

Miles believes the choking smoke possibly kept people out of their gardens,  and also resulted in lower temperatures.

She says it has put “less demand on irrigation water.”

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While Miles says reservoirs are at a good level heading into the fall, a major creek in the area has suffered from this summer’s high temperatures.

“Our staff go out and look at Coldstream Creek quite frequently, being one of our major water sources, so they’ve definitely noticed that the creek is quite low,” Miles explains.

She could not say if fish stock had been affected.

Miles says staff ensure that water level targets are met for both Duteau and Bessette creeks, helped by the storage reservoir above Lumby.

File photo

by Kate Bouey

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