Education, not fines for water wasters
Getting caught illegally watering your lawn will likely net you a warning, not a fine. “We’re going the educational route, not fines,” said City of Kelowna water quality supervisor Ed Hoppe.
“We do have a water users bylaw that has provisions for enforcement and fines. But we would use fines only as a last resort. We much prefer to be proactive with education.”
The city utility and surrounding utilities such as Rutland Waterworks have had water-use restrictions in place for years.
However, the current extremely dry weather conditions means no rain has been drenching lawns, gardens and landscaping, so some people have taken to watering outside the law.
Rutland Waterworks has deemed the problem serious enough to start patrols.
“This means (water patrollers) will be circulating throughout local neighbourhoods, ensuring water is being used properly and regulations are being followed,” said Rutland Waterworks assistant general manager Kevin Reynolds.
“Rutland Waterworks is currently running above normal levels to meet the outside water demands. This is due to the extremely hot weather conditions and property owners not adhering to the regulations.”
However, Rutland Waterworks’ policy is to provide information to offenders right now, not fine them.
As such, it’s designed a card that can be handed out or hung on your doorknob, if you’re not at home, explaining watering restrictions and urging you to comply.
Neither the city nor Rutland Waterworks has mentioned what the fine for illegal watering is in recent campaigns.
In fact, when asked what the fine is, Hoppe didn’t know, indicating fines are very rarely, if ever, handed out.
However, the bylaw does allow for fines of up to $10,000 and-or up to 90 days in jail.
The City of Kelowna isn’t doing patrols yet.
“We do have a contractor that responds to reports of illegal watering,” said Hoppe.
“But we’ll wait and see if we need to go to stricter water restrictions or water patrols.”
Kelowna’s and Rutland’s water restrictions follow an odd-even schedule.
Properties with odd number addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Even number addresses can water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. There’s no watering on Mondays. On the days you are allowed to water, automatic irrigation systems can run between midnight and 6 a.m. and manual sprinklers can be turned on 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight.
Hand watering with a watering can or spring loaded nozzle on a hose is allowed anytime.
The City of Kelowna water utility gets its water from Okanagan Lake, a seemingly endless resource, especially post-flood.
However, there is a cost to drawing that water, treating it and distributing it to every home and business in the city.
When you sprinkle your lawn, you are using water that’s been treated to drinking water quality.
That’s why the utility has started to meter water, charge variable rates for water usage and encourage conservation.
Outside watering accounts for as much as 80 per cent of total water demand on a hot summer day.