Kelowna moves to Stage 2 amid widespread Southern Interior water restrictions

An impact sprinkler waters a lawn. Water restrictions are in effect across much of the Southern Interior, although permitted days, times and uses vary by community.

Photo by Paul Moody

Grand Forks remains at normal, while Greenwood and Christina Lake are at Stage 2 and several Okanagan communities are at Stage 3

OKANAGAN — Kelowna has tightened outdoor water restrictions as dry conditions and increased demand continue to put pressure on water supplies across parts of the Southern Interior.

The City of Kelowna moved customers of its water utility to Stage 2 restrictions effective immediately on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Under Stage 2, odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while even-numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays and Sundays. Watering hours vary depending on the type of irrigation system being used.

The city is also asking customers to reduce non-essential water use, including unnecessary lawn irrigation and outdoor cleaning. It says Stage 2 measures are intended to achieve a 20-per-cent reduction in water use.

Kelowna has several water providers. The city’s announcement notes that customers in the Glenmore-Ellison service area are also under Stage 2 restrictions, as are City of Kelowna customers supplied by the McCulloch Lake Reservoir.

Water restriction stages are established by individual water providers, so the rules attached to Stage 1, 2 or 3 are not necessarily identical from one community to another.

Boundary restrictions vary by community

Water restrictions differ considerably across the Boundary.

The City of Grand Forks remains at Normal, according to its current sprinkling-regulations page. The city uses a staged system ranging from Normal through Stage 3.

In Greenwood, Stage 2 water restrictions are in effect.

Even-numbered properties may water lawns on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while odd-numbered properties may water on Wednesdays and Sundays. Automatic sprinklers may operate between midnight and 6 a.m. on permitted days, while manual sprinklers and outside taps can be used between midnight and 11 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Filling swimming pools, hot tubs, garden ponds or decorative fountains is prohibited under Greenwood's Stage 2 rules, as is washing vehicles, driveways or sidewalks. Hand watering trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens remains permitted.

Christina Lake is also at Stage 2, according to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary's current WaterSmart page. The RDKB also lists its Beaver Valley and Rivervale systems at Stage 2.

In Midway, municipal watering restrictions are in effect year-round under the village's water bylaw. Sprinkling or irrigating lawns and gardens is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

In a May notice, the Village said public works staff had already observed increased water use during warmer weather and warned that additional restrictions could be introduced over the summer if necessary.

Stage 3 restrictions in several Okanagan communities

A number of Okanagan water systems are operating under tighter restrictions.

West Kelowna has been at Stage 3 since July 13, with residential irrigation limited to one day per week. Even-numbered addresses may water on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays.

The Stage 3 rules also prohibit filling swimming pools, hot tubs, decorative fountains and garden ponds, as well as washing vehicles, driveways, decks, patios and sidewalks.

Peachland has been under Stage 3 restrictions since April 14, with lawn watering limited to Saturdays for even-numbered properties and Sundays for odd-numbered properties.

The District said the restrictions were introduced because of ongoing drought conditions and lower-than-optimal levels in the upland lakes that feed its reservoirs.

The Town of Oliver moved to Stage 3 on July 21 because of low well levels and drought conditions. The Town said the Okanagan River below McIntyre Dam had recorded extremely low flows, while several municipal and rural wells were under pressure. One rural well had been shut down to protect its pump and two wells in town were approaching critically low levels.

Osoyoos and Rural Water Districts 8 and 9 moved to Stage 3 effective Aug. 1. Lawn watering is limited to one day per week, with the permitted day determined by the property's watering zone.

In the North Okanagan, Greater Vernon Water remains at Stage 3. The restrictions apply to customers in Vernon, Coldstream, portions of Spallumcheen and connected portions of Electoral Areas B, C and D.

Lawn watering is prohibited. Food gardens and potted plants can be watered as needed using approved methods including drip irrigation and hand watering. Filling or refilling pools remains prohibited, although limited top-ups to replace evaporation are permitted. The regional district is targeting an overall 50-per-cent reduction in water use.

Armstrong and several surrounding water service areas are at Stage 2. Those restrictions took effect June 4 and also apply to Spallumcheen residents supplied by the City of Armstrong.

Penticton remains at Stage 2, where odd-numbered addresses may irrigate Tuesdays and Saturdays and even-numbered addresses Wednesdays and Sundays. The city is seeking an overall 20-per-cent reduction in water use.

Lake Country remains under modified Stage 2 restrictions, limiting irrigation of lawns, ornamental plants, flowers and shrubs to two days per week.

All six water systems operated by the Regional District of Central Okanagan are at Stage 2. They are Star Place, Falcon Ridge, Killiney Beach, Sunset Ranch, Upper Fintry/Shalal Road/Valley of the Sun and Westshore Estates. The restrictions have been in effect across all six systems since June 16.

Residential customers in Summerland remain at Stage 1, allowing sprinkler watering three days per week according to address. Micro-irrigation, drip irrigation and hoses with shut-off nozzles can be used for trees, shrubs and vegetables at any time.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is also imposing restrictions across its water systems. Faulder is at Stage 3, while Lakeshore, Okanagan Falls, Skaha Estates and West Bench are at Stage 2. Gallagher Lake, Missezula Lake, Naramata, Olalla, Sage Mesa/Westwood/Husula, Sun Valley and Willowbrook are listed at Stage 1.

Conservation measures in effect across West Kootenays

Water restrictions and seasonal conservation measures are also in place across much of the West Kootenays.

The Beaver Valley Water Service and Rivervale Water Utility are at Stage 2, according to the RDKB. The Village of Fruitvale, which operates and maintains the Beaver Valley system on the RDKB's behalf, also lists Beaver Valley at Stage 2.

Nelson has been at Stage 1 since July 10. Lawn watering is limited to designated days and to the hours of 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Even-numbered addresses may water Wednesdays and Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses Thursdays and Sundays.

Trail's seasonal water-conservation measures have been in effect since June 1. Lawn watering is allowed on odd-numbered calendar days for odd-numbered properties and even-numbered days for even-numbered properties, with additional restrictions on watering hours.

Castlegar's seasonal restrictions run from June 15 to Sept. 15. Watering and car washing are restricted to every second day, based on whether an address is odd or even, with prescribed morning, evening and overnight watering periods.

Rossland's Stage 1 outdoor water restrictions are in effect year-round unless the city announces a higher stage. Outdoor residential water use is generally restricted to before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m., with alternate watering days based on address.

The Regional District of Central Kootenay puts all of its water systems under at least Stage 1 from June 1 through Sept. 30 each year. Under Stage 1, lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs may be watered only between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m., although drip irrigation, watering cans and hand-held hoses may be used at any time.

Two RDCK systems are currently under tighter measures. Riondel is at Stage 2 because high water consumption reduced reservoir levels, and Woodland Heights is also at Stage 2, according to the regional district's current news listings.

The Town of Creston is at Stage 1, with its annual restrictions in effect from June 1 through Sept. 30, while Kaslo's Stage 1 conservation measures are also in effect during that period.

The Village of Salmo's seasonal water regulations took effect June 1.

Water restrictions can change as demand, weather and water-supply conditions change. Residents should check the current rules from their own municipality or water provider before watering lawns or gardens because permitted days, hours and activities vary between systems.