By Times Chronicle Staff
As conditions in the Okanagan continue to change rapidly the Province has moved the Okanagan region up to Drought Level 3 or “Severely Dry”. The move comes after the drought level had been shifted from 1 to 2 barely a week ago.
“The heatwave has continued through July with air temperatures consistently between 35°C and 40°C and no significant precipitation,” said the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB).
As a result, the water board noted that stream flows across the Okanagan have continued to drop – in some cases quite rapidly – and water temperatures have continued to increase. Although flows remain better in some streams with control structures (e.g. a dam), some unregulated streams are extremely low, it added.
At this level, “serious ecosystem and socio-economic impacts are possible”. All unauthorized use should be curtailed and water suppliers are likely to impose water restrictions, the OBWB said adding “everyone should be using water wisely”.
