by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 17, 2015 at 1:00 AM— updated Jul 17, 2015 at 5:58 AM
A local politician insists the tightening of water use wasn’t an arbitrary decision. Some residents have questioned the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee’s recent shift to stage one water restrictions. “Staff are responding to the drought response plan we have in place,” said Juliette Cunningham, chairperson, adding that stakeholders were involved in developing the plan. Stage one restrictions were implemented because of current dry conditions and reservoirs being drawn down. “We want to do everything we can to avoid going to the next stage and we want to make residents aware of the situation,” said Cunningham. Cunningham also says there is a need to preserve the water supply for months to come. “We don’t know what will happen before next year (with the weather) so we want to take action now.”
Under stage one, residents can water:
• Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Saturday if their property has an odd address number.
• Wednesday, Friday, and/or Sunday if their property has an even address number.
• Automatic timer irrigation may operate between the hours from midnight to 6 a.m.
• Manual sprinklers (moved by hand) may be used between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and midnight.
• Drip irrigation may operate between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. (could previously run anytime under normal restrictions).
• Customers using a watering can or hose with spring-loaded nozzle may hand water anytime.
More details can be found at www.rdno.ca/waterrestrictions.
Cunningham says other communities are looking to Greater Vernon’s drought response plan, particularly because of climate change. “If temperatures keep increasing, this will be more commonplace,’” she said of pressures on water supply.
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