Restrictions raise questions

Published: May 04, 2010 7:00 PM Posted with Permission of Author Jim Bodkin

Let us hope that something other than hasty, poorly considered responses to the unprecedented low water levels in our Aberdeen plateau reservoirs occurs. The Greater Vernon water utility has, thus far, only provided taxpayers with a partial picture of our overall water resources. Yet they are proposing harsh restrictions based upon that less than complete and hence skewed picture. Restrictions that impact the ability of some taxpayers to continue earning a livelihood and lower the quality of life of other taxpayers who are forbidden to operate water-dependent amenities have been imposed Chicken Little fashion without due diligence being done of the consequences thereof.

We have water rights on Kalamalka Lake. Are they fully taken up or can they be used to supplement our shortfall from the Aberdeen plateau reservoirs? We have wells, some of which have been closed due to health concerns. Are those health concerns being addressed? Are we pumping all we can from other wells to make up the water shortfall as much as we can? Are plans in force to bring additional wells into production? Has the province been approached seeking additional water rights on Kalamalka Lake?

These are simple questions. They are not rocket science. Imposing harsh measures without explaining to the public that everything has been done that can be done and that measures are underway to augment our water drawing rights from Kalamalka and Okanagan lakes and raise our dams on the Aberdeen plateau so we no longer spill water in plentiful years but maintain them for use during dry ones are simply common sense.

The restrictions are being applied willy-nilly to everyone regardless of the source of their water. That should be a political, not a bureaucratic, decision. Harsh measures require open public debate before being imposed. Surely it was either dereliction of duty or lack of reasonable foresight that resulted in such surprisingly harsh water restrictions being arbitrarily imposed upon us taxpayers without any notice whatsoever? Doing a flip-flop from "We might have a problem and may need to go to stage two restrictions in the near future," to, ‘Oh my God" is not acceptable. It is time for politicians to take charge and ensure that intelligent responses to an admittedly difficult water shortage are made and that actions are instituted to offset future reoccurrences.

Obviously all the tax dollars spent on Duteau Creek water quality upgrades have been made to a water source that is not 100 per cent reliable in the drier years we have been told are likely to occur as our climate continues to change. Equally obvious, we need to increase our water licenses to obtain more water from our local lakes. Without more water our former housing boom becomes a bust complete with all the consequences that entails. This is not a one-year aberration. It is simply a taste of living in a semi arid climate that is in the midst of becoming more arid.

The recent increase in our water rates is just a harbinger of what is to come. Greater Vernon water utility revenues will tank this year with all of the usage restrictions and they will be crying poverty to all of us taxpayers next year and demanding even higher water rates — a classic vicious circle of more for less. We will need to change our highway signs to read “Welcome to Greater Vernon: Home of the Okanagan's Highest and Most Restrictive Water Rates."

Jim Bodkin