Watering restrictions in South Okanagan

Two more local governments in the South Okanagan have initiated Stage 1 watering restrictions.

The City of Penticton and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen have now joined the Town of Oliver on the list.

“Due to low snowpack and minimal precipitation across the RDOS, drought conditions are predicted for the region. As a precautionary measure, the RDOS is asking all water users to reduce outdoor water use to meet Stage 1 water restrictions,” said the local government in a press release.

Stage 1 restrictions aim to cut usage by 10% and mean customers of 10 RDOS-operated water utilities may now water just twice per week: even-numbered properties on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and odd-numbered properties on Wednesdays and Sundays. Manul watering may take place between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., then again 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., on designated days. Automatic sprinkler systems may run from midnight to 6 a.m. on designated days.

The RDOS water systems are in: Gallagher Lake, Olalla, Willowbrook, Missezula Lake, Sage Mesa, Faulder, Naramata, Sun Valley, Okanagan Falls and West Bench.

In Penticton, odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Even-numbered addressees may water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Manul watering may take place between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., then again 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., on designated days. Automatic sprinkler systems may run from midnight to 6 a.m. on designated days.

Townhouses and condominiums follow their street addresses, not unit numbers, while mobile home parks follow their unit numbers.

The Town of Oliver implanted Stage 1 watering restrictions last week. As of April 1, snowpack in the Okanagan basin was 73% of normal and 62% of normal in the Similkameen, according to the B.C. River Forecast Centre. The average snowpack across all 34 of B.C.’s water basins was 63% of normal.