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Armstrong captures water conservation award

Armstrong can start calling itself the city of champions when it comes to the Make Water Work Community Contest.
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Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper receives the 2017 Make Water Work award from Tracy Gray (left) and Corinne Jackson, with the Okanagan Basin Water Board. (Barry Gerding/Black Press)

Armstrong can start calling itself the city of champions when it comes to the Make Water Work Community Contest.

Armstrong was awarded the title at the Okanagan Basin Water Board annual general meeting last week, the second time in three years the city has won the crown.

Mayor Chris Pieper said he was shocked when Armstrong won the contest in 2015, but after losing out in 2016 realized he would have to work that much harder to regain the title.

The contest is based on the number of pledges given by residents within a water board region community, per capita, to conserve water use.

While the contest is meant to be fun and often inspires competitive trash talking about area mayors, the program also has an important underlying message to conserve and save water in an arid climate experiencing extreme weather conditions, particularly this year.

Pieper said he spread the word every way he could, from local media coverage to contest information cards handed out to customers at plant sale stores, to encourage local participation.

“I am happy to see us back on top. It’s hard to repeat as the winner but I look forward to that challenge next year,” said Pieper.



Barry Gerding

About the Author: Barry Gerding

Senior regional reporter for Black Press Media in the Okanagan. I have been a journalist in the B.C. community newspaper field for 37 years...
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