Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 29, 2010 6:00 PM
Greater Vernon officials aren’t dropping the hammer yet over tight water restrictions. It was a week ago that the North Okanagan Regional District initiated stage three water restrictions because of low snowpack and reservoir levels. “Before we get into enforcement, we want to focus on public awareness,” said Al Cotsworth, utility manager. Information will be provided through the media and online as to the specific regulations and how residents and businesses can reduce consumption. But in about three weeks, enforcement staff will come on board and they will respond to complaints. “In the past, the public has been good about talking about people who don’t follow the rules,” said Cotsworth. “We had a trucker call and he was telling us about who he’s passing on his route.”
If a resident is found breaking the restrictions, NORD staff will visit and discuss the matter the first time. A second offence will lead to a letter and a third offence will lead to the resident’s water being turned off. “The Interior Health Authority has stated they have no problem with shutting water off if restrictions are not followed,” said Cotsworth. For residential users, manual sprinklers can only be used once a week between 6 and 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. and midnight. Automatic underground sprinklers are allowed between midnight and 6 a.m. Addresses ending in 0 can water on Saturday, 1 on Sunday, 2 on Monday, 3 or 4 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday, 6 or 7 on Thursday and 8 or 9 Friday. Washing driveways and sidewalks for aesthetic purposes is prohibited, and there’s no washing of vehicles except for safety (windows, lights and licenses only) using a bucket with a cloth.
Refilling of pools and garden ponds is not allowed at this time, but that policy will be revisited by the NORD board Wednesday. Hand-held sprinkling by residents is allowed at any time. Greater Vernon’s reservoirs currently have about 2,500-acre-feet of storage, while it’s usually 4,500-acre-feet at this time of the year.
1 comment:
Hmm we still only have 2500 acre feet. Wierd..... What about Kal Lake, its filling up nicely. The Aberdeen Lakes are just staying even at 2500 though, I think we need to send someone up there to whats going on!
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