The fountain outside town hall shoots water into the air as councillors inside their chamber discuss a new water bylaw. No waste here though — this water is recirculated. (Richard McGuire photo)
Town of Osoyoos council has voted to implement permanent water restrictions for property owners in the town and rural district beginning in less than two weeks.
Following a prolonged drought that began last spring and continued for several months, council voted last summer to implement a temporary bylaw that restricted watering of lawns to twice a week and implemented other restrictions on domestic water use.
Council later voted to extend the water restrictions to property owners who lived in Irrigation Districts 8 and 9.
On Monday, council voted unanimously to implement water restrictions permanently, effective April 18.
Instead of twice a week, property owners will be allowed to water their lawns every second day, based on their home address.
Barry Romanko, the town’s chief administrative officer, said council passed a motion late last November during an in camera meeting where it was resolved the council approves that the Osoyoos Water District Rates and Regulations bylaw, originally approved in 2008, be rewritten to implement domestic water restrictions consistent with the town for Irrigation Districts 8 and 9, said Romanko.
If the CAO gives notice that a reduction in water uses in necessary, council could vote to implement twice a week watering like they did last summer.
Under this scenario, watering would only be permitted on Saturdays and Tuesdays on even numbered addresses and Sundays and Wednesdays for those living at odd numbered addresses.
If a prolonged drought were to happen again, the CAO and council would have the authority to implement Stage 2 restrictions and allow commercial watering only once a week.
Under a worst case scenario, the CAO could give notice to eliminate all lawn watering until further notice.
This motion was taken out of in camera at the March 21 regular meeting of town council.
The new bylaw includes several changes that include the elimination of domestic daily watering of lawns and implements the odd/even watering schedule as the new norm for all property owners in the town and irrigation districts, said Romanko.
Council voted to pass the first three readings of the amended bylaw on Monday and the bylaw will become effective April 18, however, bylaw enforcement won’t begin until May 2, said Romanko.
“This schedule will allow two weeks for initiation of education and information” for local property owners, said Romanko.
Administration has also recommended slight increases in fines that will be included in the town’s municipal ticketing bylaw, said Romanko.
The town is going to advertise the changes to the bylaw in an effort to educate the public and it also intends to hire a summer student who will be involved in the education and monitoring process, he said.
The only costs involved will be the funding required to pay for the summer student, he said.
The whole idea of implementing a permanent water restrictions bylaw is “increased water conservation that will result from the proposed amendments to the bylaw.”
Under the new bylaw, properties equipped with automated time clock sprinkler systems may only sprinkle between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. on the days permitted by the sprinkling regulations in the bylaw.
Properties equipped with only manually controlled sprinkling systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate from 6 until 10 a.m. and from 7 p.m. until midnight on the days permitted.
Sprinkling will not be permitted between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. any day at any time of the year.
Only one outside tap may be used at one time for sprinkling and it won’t be permissible to use an open pipe or hose for irrigation purposes.
Use of water hoses will be permitted for the purpose of washing boats or motor vehicles only when equipped with an automatic shut off nozzle.
No one will be able to water or wash sidewalks, driveways or parking lots, except for applying products such as paint or preservatives, or when preparing a surface prior to paving or brick work, or if required by law to comply with health and safety regulations.
There are certain buildings and facilities that will remain exempt from restrictions, including:
• Watering of public sports playing fields, turf farms and golf courses.
• Watering of flower and vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs and trees using micro-irrigation, drip irrigation or a hose with an automatic shut off nozzle.
• Commercial car washes so long as each vehicle wash does not exceed 57 litres of water.
• Special permits issued under the bylaw.
• Owners or occupiers of property who by reason of physical or mental incapacity are unable to water their property within the restricted day and times, may water their property on any two days of the week for a maximum of eight hours per day.
Mayor Sue McKortoff said this new bylaw is needed as a tool by the town to encourage water conservation initiatives for many years to come.
“We’ve talked about this for a long time,” she said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
