Restrictions still in effect
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Concerns over water supply mean restrictions remain for some Greater Vernon residents.
The North Okanagan Regional District continues to enforce twice-a-week irrigating rules for customers on the Duteau Creek source.
“The more we save now, the more we have later,” said Al Cotsworth, utility manager.
Currently, volume in the reservoirs is not at the level it should be at for this time of the year.
“At one point, we were at the lowest they’d ever been but now we’re at the third lowest,” said Cotsworth.
“The situation has improved but it’s still not good.”
The main reason for the low levels is a lot of the snow last spring evaporated as it melted and the water never got into the reservoirs.
On top of this, a hot summer led to increased consumption.
Cotsworth says there is sufficient water in the system to meet the needs of Duteau customers until next spring, but he is hoping for snow during the winter.
“If we don’t get an average snowpack, we will be in the same condition next year,” he said.
Irrigation lines to agricultural operations are currently being shut off and Cotsworth hopes that will help the utility conserve its water reserves further.
But he is also asking residents to do their part.
“We would ask people to look at their irrigation and cut back,” he said.
Duteau residential customers in Coldstream, Vernon and Areas B and C can irrigate their yards using the following schedule.
Addresses ending in:
0 - Saturday and Wednesday;
1 - Sunday and Wednesday;
2 - Monday and Saturday;
3 and 4 - Tuesday and Saturday;
5 - Wednesday and Saturday;
6 and 7 - Thursday and Sunday;
8 and 9 Friday and Sunday.
Gardeners who wish to provide additional irrigation to sensitive plants may do so by hand, using watering cans or hand-held hose with a spring loaded shut-off.
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