Here in what is often claimed to be Canada’s only desert, the topic of water conservation can spark strong emotions.
After a summer of record droughts, and forecasts that we could see more of the same, Osoyoos town council is discussing the pros and cons of bringing in universal water metering.
Water metering is proven to be effective in cutting water consumption – on average by about 20 per cent in B.C. Interior communities that have done it – and it also makes those who use the most water pay a higher price than those who conserve.
Lawn watering in the summer is the biggest residential use of water, so not surprisingly those who believe it’s important to have lush green lawns in the desert, are among the most vocal opponents of metering, which would shift a higher cost burden onto them.
Some of the arguments against meters are legitimate and others are not. Similarly, the arguments about whether or not there is a water shortage are also a mixture of fact, fantasy and uncertainty.
Consultants have estimated the cost of installing universal meters at just short of $2 million in Osoyoos and the cost of retrofitting is higher than installing on new buildings.
But meter installation costs would be eligible for funding from the federal government and the province, so much of the capital costs would not be borne by water users or property owners.
Although those who promote water conservation cringe when they hear arguments from some residents that there was no water shortage because there was water in the lake, there is an element of truth to this.
Water was held back by the Zosel dam in order to maintain the lake at the levels internationally agreed to. So there was enough water that Osoyoos could have used more, but potentially at the expense of migrating fish and the farmers in Washington State, who experienced extreme shortages and rationing.
There may be no legal requirement to provide water to U.S. users, but they are our neighbours and they needed it.
If we continue to waste water here, it will only be a matter of time until the idea of mandatory flows becomes an issue.
There is also too little data at this time to conclude that ground water supplies are threatened or not. We need more information.
Council met Monday to discuss some of these issues behind closed doors so the discussion could be more freewheeling.
Hopefully though, the arguments will be aired in public before any decisions are made.
