Dear Editor:
There is a lot to be considered when it comes to water metering in Osoyoos.
In 1994, I was with the city planner of Whistler and two people from the B.C. Ministry of Tourism. We were discussing Osoyoos.
Whistler’s town planner knew our community well as he was from the Kootenays and said Osoyoos had a gorgeous visibility with two highways leading into the community providing spectacular views from high above both day and night.
B.C. Tourism’s Jim Majcher and Wanda Hook, both highly respected in the ministry, said “although Osoyoos had 1960s and 70s motels we would be okay as long as we didn’t lose ‘the edge’.”
He said. “The edge is how we look to passers-by as we give a stunning impression with just a glance.”
When I came to Osoyoos in April of 1978 before moving here, I told folks in Ontario that “they don’t cut the grass in Osoyoos, they manicure it.”
Someone else described us as ‘Shangri-la’ with the green at the bottom of the valley amidst the snow in the mountains.
This was exemplified in 1995 when the Canadian Government started the Communities in Bloom contest and Osoyoos entered and was chosen the winner in B.C.
We were then visited by three national judges who picked Osoyoos as the winner across Canada and local newspapers carried headlines claiming, ‘Osoyoos … Prettiest Town In Canada’.
You cannot purchase that type of advertising and promotion.
In my days of sitting on the Okanagan Basin Water Board, there never was the question about the quantity of water. It was always about the quality of the water and the board originally was formed to combat the spread of Eurasian milfoil in the lake.
Every eight to 12 years since I have been here, there is a year or two of heavier snowpack together.
The Similkameen River empties into Okanagan River just south of Oroville at 913 feet as there is no way to control the flow and the Okanagan has to increase the flow to 913.6 feet to keep the water flowing south to the Columbia River.
However at 913.6 feet, local flooding conditions exist. This was last evident in 2000 when we dumped sand in a few locations for sandbagging and again just a few years ago there was a flood threat.
1n 1989, the Osoyoos Economic Development Commission looked at how Osoyoos got its revenue and it was a three-way split with agriculture, tourism, and retirement making the main three.
Today agriculture has moved a bit ahead with the wine industry and there is an increase in the retirement sector.
Tourism has fallen a bit due to changes in the industry and a decline in family campsites.
We have, however, vastly improved our accommodation sector to include three first class operations and the Osoyoos waterfront and surrounding area is now an eye-popper, especially to visitors.
I have always maintained that how we look in summer is what brings people back in fall, winter, and spring.
Another item not yet mentioned by anyone is from a health and safety aspect. In the past 20 years, the town has been promoting xeriscape landscaping consisting of rocks and desert plants.
These do a good job of cutting down on the use of water. But we also have to have some green grass as it has a cooling affect around our homes.
This last summer I put the thermometer out in the sun and saw it reach 53 Celcius, which is 127 Fahrenheit in the direct sun.
Rocks absorb and reflect heat while un-watered areas turn to yellow straw-like grass that becomes a fire hazard if it is plentiful.
Pets and smaller living things that are essential to the Earth also need grass area. Green grass has to be in city parks for the benefit not only of a beautiful view but also a cooling affect to us all in the community and our visitors.
I also have a concern with water meters following a conversation I had last spring with a representative from FortisBC out of Calgary, who told me during a phone call that she thought water meters were just as important as the new hydro meters.
I wondered what a person in Calgary would know about watering our lawns in Osoyoos.
That causes me concern, especially after reading quite a few Letters to the Editor in both the Osoyoos Times and the Oliver Chronicle over the past few years regarding the higher hydro bills, in some cases up to $500 more per month during winter months.
Yet the smart meters are here to make us conserve energy.
In every year-end financial report, saving energy is never mentioned or promoted by Fortis, but usually record profits for the year. You can see it on their website.
Once folks pay that extra money to Fortis, it does not return to our communities to be spent in local stores and today we have empty locations on main streets.
Water meters will take even more which again affects local merchants.
Unfortunately, it is us retired folks who are the wasters of water here as schools and society have been promoting saving water for over 25 years so the younger people know better.
We have found out that we can all have green lawns yet still follow the watering restrictions as laid down by council each year.
It would be prudent for council to consider holding this off for a few years for a few reasons.
The first is not spending $2 million dollars to do it, if we the public can keep the consumption down.
There is a downturn being experienced in the world economy right now so it would be prudent to hold back on spending and even hiring under present economic conditions.
By following water restrictions in town when required, we should be able to save the cost of water meters and keep enough green space that keeps us a healthy and vibrant community that also boosts our local economy.
It would be a shame to toss that away now with how we look and that is why we need ‘the edge’.
For us seniors, the heavy users, if we buck up, it is a benefit to all and especially all our wallets.
Thank you for allowing me to write about this very important and critical issue that is going to affect our town and all of our citizens.
Tom Shields
Osoyoos, B.C.
Editor’s note: Tom Shields is the former mayor for the Town of Osoyoos. He served several terms on town council as a councillor before becoming the mayor in the 1990s.
