Drought rating maxed out

by Nicholas Johansen CASTANET - Aug 5, 2015 / 4:09 pm
The B.C. government has extended a Level 4 drought rating to the Okanagan after months of dry, hot weather. In addition to the Level 4 rating, the province has taken the additional step of suspending fishing on the Okanagan River between Okanagan Lake and Osoyoos Lake until Sept. 30. This now brings the highest drought rating to the Similkameen, Nicola, South Thompson and Kettle regions in addition to the Okanagan. The government said in a release that further declines in water levels could affect people, industry, agriculture and fish stocks. It is urging residents to maximize water conservation, but water utilities have the final say on imposing restrictions on users. “Water restrictions are imposed depending on the body of water they’re looking at,” said Anna Sears, executive director at the Okanagan Basin Water Board. The raising of the drought level could result in more water restrictions. “It really remains to be seen,” said Sears. “It’s going to depend on how much storage your utility has. It’s going to depend on how the weather unfolds over the next month.” The long-term weather is looking to be very dry through August and September, according to Sears. “In response to Level 3 in the past couple weeks, the City of Kelowna put on watering restrictions,” Sears said. “Level 4 is much more serious. There isn’t a level 5, so we’re assuming there will be more watering restrictions from water utilities.” In Metro Vancouver, already under a Level 4 drought rating, the municipality has imposed strong watering restrictions, where residents can be fined $250 for watering lawns or hand washing their car.