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The water level in Okanagan Lake is lower than it was in 2003, the year of the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. (Photo Adrian Nieoczym)
By Adrian Nieoczym
If the summer continues to be as hot and dry as it has been so far, we should brace for more water restrictions.
A lack of snow in the winter, combined with a lack of rain in the spring and so far this summer, means there is less water than normal available for us to use.
Water restrictions have already been imposed in the Westbank Irrigation District and in South East Kelowna, where the South East Kelowna Irrigation District draws its water from mountain reservoir lakes.
As a result, watering of most city parks in South East Kelowna is being cut back 72 per cent compared to previous years.
The City of Kelowna’s water utility meanwhile, which serves the majority of Kelowna residents, draws its water from Okanagan Lake, which is also suffering from lower than normal water levels. The other residents are serviced by SEKID, Black Mountain Irrigation District, Glenmore-Ellision Improvement District and Rutland Waterworks.
“The lake levels are lower than in 2003,” said Anna Warwick Sears, the Okanagan Water Basin Board’s executive director. “Overall we have not had enough rainfall this year…Okanagan Lake didn’t fill up this winter.”
2003 of course, is well remembered for the dry and hot conditions which contributed to the Okanagan Mountain Park fire.
According to Ministry of the Environment, this year has seen the sixth lowest level of runoff into Okanagan Lake on record.
But so far, the City of Kelowna has not had to implement water restrictions.
“We’re well within our allowable license,” said John Vos, the city’s general of community services.” He added that the city only draws about 40 per cent of the water volume allowed under its license from the province.
“Having said that, yes, there’s a great deal of concern about how dry it is and how little water went into the lake this year,” said Vos. “And we’re watching very closely to see what direction we might get from the province, whether or not they’ll ask all water users of Okanagan Lake to implement extreme water conservation measures.”
The biggest concern is with water used for irrigation, be it for watering lawns, gardens or parks, as this water does not get recaptured through the sewer system and returned to the lake.
The city is trying to cut back watering at parks in areas other than South East Kelowna by 20 per cent, though sports fields and some heavily used parks will continue to get their usual water allotments.
And Vos would like to see Kelowna residents doing what they can to save water without waiting for a government order.
“I think we all have to be very sensitive is to how dry it is out there, how short of water Okanagan Lake is and we should all try to keep our water usage to a minimum,” said Vos.
Vos also said any residential or commercial customer who gets their water from the City of Kelowna water utility can get a free irrigation audit from the city. The results can be used to save not only water, but money.
Since the city implemented water meters in 1998, water use has fallen 20 per cent in Kelowna. The city is also implementing a plan with the goal of reducing water consumption by a further 15 per cent.
And what is happening this year is just a sample of what is still to come, according to Warwick.
“It’s very important for people to take the situation seriously…because climate change will impact our water supplies,” she said. “Even if there are no water shortages this year we need to get ready for water shortages in the not too distant future.”
adrian@kelowna.com/(250)575-3517
Tags: Kelowna, okanagan lake level, water
