Water worries

By Jordan Nicurity Tuesday, June 19, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=49516

Although the recent weather has been less than conducive for those looking to cultivate a tan, the rain is sorely needed if the Okanagan is to avoid dry conditions similar to 2003. In a recent update of its “Snowpack and Water Supply Outlook”, the Ministry of the Environment noted that the Okanagan basin “may develop water-supply problems as they move into the summer months.” According to Al Cotsworth, water manager for Greater Vernon Services, the reservoirs that feed the Vernon area are already at six per cent below the levels experienced at this date in 2003. “If we didn‘t have this recent rain we‘d be in stage two water restrictions now,” said Cotsworth. Stage two restrictions only allow for two days per week for lawn sprinkling and other ornamental landscape features. Stage three restrictions, seen during the dry summer of 2003, only allow watering for one day per week . Two factors have contributed to the below average water levels: the less than average size of the snowpack and a dry spring. “Our snowpack was 30 per cent above average until December, then we received no significant early spring snow,” said Cotsworth. According to the ministry report, the low snowpack “reflects the early melt of low level snow, as well as very low precipitation during April and May.”

The report noted that Kelowna received only 27 per cent of its normal precipitation for April as well as only 47 per cent of the average May precipitation levels. The Okanagan‘s unique geography creates an environment prone to water shortages according to Allan Chapman, head of the B.C. River Forecast Centre. “This is a very arid part of the province and there tends to be a fine balance between the water supply and the water demand,” said Chapman. Cotsworth said the next four weeks will be crucial in determining whether further restrictions will be imposed on water usage in Vernon. “Rain helps in two ways; by lowering the need and increasing the amount of available water,” said Cotsworth, “Just average precipitation would keep demand low enough that (restrictions) shouldn‘t become an issue. When it rains like this, we see our outgoing flows drop by as much as 50 per cent.” Both Cotsworth and Chapman agreed that long term forecasts were unreliable in predicting precipitation levels and that residents should make an effort to reduce their household water consumption.