Greater Vernon residents are being warned to ease off the taps as the water supply shrinks.
Duteau Creek water reservoir readings taken Tuesday show that reservoirs are still below normal levels.
As a result, stage one water restrictions continue.
Outdoor irrigation is allowed before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for houses with odd numbered addresses and Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for those with even numbered addresses.
“Residents and businesses are asked to do what they can to help conserve water. Efforts made now will help sustain supplies for farms, fish, and fighting fires during what is expected to be a continued hot and dry summer,” said Renee Clark, with Greater Vernon Water.
“While average water consumption from July 21 to 31 was four per cent lower than the consumption from July 1 to 20, our goal is to reduce demand by 10 per cent.”
If stage two restrictions are needed, the utility will shift from voluntary conservation to a mandatory 20 per cent reduction.
“Greater Vernon Water has the benefit of accessing multiple sources for agriculture water and Kalamalka Lake and Duteau Creek to meet potable water demands,” said Clark.
“Operational changes have been made to increase the amount of water supplied from Kalamalka Lake and offset demand from the Duteau reservoirs. Nonetheless, the amount of water that GVW can use from Kalamalka Lake is limited by our system capacity and hence, stage one restrictions are needed.”