Even though drought-like conditions continue in and around Osoyoos, Town of Osoyoos council has voted to remove all water use restrictions that have been in place for weeks.
“Administration recommends returning to normal water use practices,” said chief administrative officer Barry Romanko during a presentation to town council at Monday’s regular meeting of council. “Residents are looking to prepare for winter and some of the current restrictions prevent residential and commercial clean ups. The area hasn’t received significant amounts of rain, however, weather conditions are significantly cooler so less amounts of water are needed for outdoor use.”
On June 1, town council passed a motion to implement Level 2 water restrictions, which ordered residents to reduce outdoor watering to twice a week. A second motion to extend the watering restrictions to property owners in Irrigation Districts 8 and 9 was adopted on Aug. 17.
On Sept. 23, the town received information that the drought level for the Okanagan Valley had been scaled back to Level 3, said Romanko.
“The fall winter season is closing in on the community and considerations for changes to the current water restrictions are being brought back to council for direction,” said Romanko. “Residents will be looking to complete fall cleanups and discontinue irrigation services.”
Council was informed that local farmers and orchardists in Irrigation Districts 8 and 9 have until Oct. 15 to continue unlimited irrigation of their crops, but that irrigation of crops will cease.
Mayor Sue McKortoff said she wasn’t in favour of the staff recommendation and it was her belief that water restrictions should continue for at least several more weeks.
“We are still in a drought at this end of the valley,” she said. “We haven’t had any appreciable amount of rain in several months.”
McKortoff was the only member of council to oppose the motion and restrictions have been lifted and the return to normal water practices goes into effect immediately.
McKortoff said numerous other communities across the Okanagan Valley have water restrictions that take effect early each spring and continue throughout the warm weather months and it’s time Osoyoos considered such restrictions.
If the current drought continues for the foreseeable future, water restrictions will need to be considered by the current council and other municipal leaders across the South Okangan, said McKortoff.
This issue will be discussed at further length at future meetings of council.
Council also approved a second motion presented by Coun. C. J. Rhodes that will have public works staff take regular readings on water level meters installed inside the town’s six large wells that provide drinking water to take a regular look at aquifer levels deep underground.
Rhodes said it would be good practice for staff to measure current levels and compare this to levels in the spring to see if underground aquifers are consistent and adequate should drought conditions continue and water restrictions return.
McKortoff said water use and restrictions will continue to be a “hot button item” for this council and future councils for years to come.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
