Greater Vernon Water (GVW) customers are now on Stage 1 Water Restrictions.
This includes properties which the GVW Utility services within Vernon, Coldstream and portions of Regional District of North Okanagan Electoral Areas B, C, and D and Spallumcheen.
GVW turned the Kalamalka Lake Water source off on May 5 due to poor water quality caused by high turbidity during freshet. The utility is now experiencing challenges meeting customer demand because RDNO is only using the Duteau water source to supply all customers and there is higher-than-normal water use.
“While turning on the Kalamalka Lake water source, which is treated by the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant, would alleviate the water supply issue, there is a risk that a Water Quality Advisory would be required,” said the RDNO.
Staff are striving towards avoiding the community impacts associated with a Water Quality Advisory by keeping the Kalamalka Lake water source off until turbidity levels are lower and stable.
“GVW needs your help reducing water use to avoid further system impacts and is issuing Stage 1 Water Restrictions,” said RDNO communications officer Ashley Gregerson.
“Through Stage 1, we aim to reduce water use by 10 per cent or more. Being water wise now and making small adjustments, such as only watering twice a week or cutting back your irrigation run time by 10 per cent, will help us avoid a Water Quality Advisory.”
Most lawns only need water once per week to remain healthy. Lawns naturally go brown and dormant with minimal water when it is hot and recover when the weather cools.
Stage 1 Restrictions give customers the following options for which day (or days) they choose to 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;
• NO YARD/GARDEN WATERING ON MONDAYS;
• NO YARD/GARDEN WATERING BETWEEN 10 a.m. AND 7 p.m. ANY DAY (Including drip irrigation).
The restrictions apply to all domestic customers – residential, commercial, and industrial. Customers using a watering can or hose with spring-loaded nozzle may hand water anytime.
Agricultural customers may continue to water within their allocation to maintain the health of their crops but are being asked to conserve wherever possible by monitoring for leaks and reducing watering during the heat of the day if possible. They must also adhere to the Maximum Flow Rate (0.78 litres per second per hectare of allocation).
When customers exceed their flow rate, it can cause their neighbours to lose water pressure and create issues which impact the capacity and pressure in the system.
Greater Vernon Water is in the design phase of installing filtration at the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant, which will remove the turbidity and greatly assist in avoiding this situation in the future.
Customers will be notified of any updates at www.rdno.ca/news (filter by Water Notices) and the RDNO’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RDNorthOkanagan. You can also subscribe to receive email updates at www.rdno.ca/subscribe.
If you have any questions, contact the RDNO Utilities Department at 250-550-3700.
READ MORE: Leak repair may impact Whitevale water
READ MORE: Okanagan Indian Band fire department extinguishes house, grass fires
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.