No water curbs for rural Osoyoos residents
By ROY WOOD

Rural Osoyoos residents dodged the watering restriction bullet Monday as town council opted not to impose the same limits on them as those faced by town residents.
Water districts eight and nine – north and south of the town limits – were not included in the water-use bylaw passed by council June 2.

The bylaw restricts lawn watering in the town to two nights per week. As well, using a hose for washing boats, vehicles, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots or exterior building surfaces is prohibited at any time, except in exceptional circumstances.

In a report to council on Monday, Chief Administrative Officer Barry Romanko said overall water use is down compared to the same period last year. He pointed out that there may be other factors leading to the decline, but it is a positive indicator.

The report also mentioned that while residents of the town are doing their share to preserve water, domestic watering continues in a normal manner in districts eight and nine.
“Public recommendations have been made that council consider implementing similar domestic water restrictions (for the rural area). Drought conditions are viewed as a valley wide concern; therefore, all residents need to participate in water conservation actions,” the report said.

One of the recommendations from staff to council was: “Council may consider implementing domestic water restrictions (in) Irrigation Districts 8 and 9. Council has the authority under Bylaw 1241.”
Water Councillor Claude Moreira advised council against having different water regulations for residential consumers and agricultural users, who live side by side in the rural areas.
He said residential users would object to having their domestic water use restricted while farmers and orchardists are free to irrigate their crops and, incidentally, their lawns. As well, said Moreira, it would be very complicated.

Councillor CJ Rhodes asked rhetorically whether “the importance of conserving water” doesn’t outweigh the bother having to deal with a complex situation.
Mayor Sue McKortoff suggested that perhaps a bylaw enforcement person could speak to residents in districts eight and nine and ask them to voluntarily reduce their consumption.
Moreira proposed that the residents could be sent a letter telling them that if they don’t reduce their water use, they would face restrictions.

In the end, council took no action other than to ask Romanko to bring a report on the issue back to council for its next meeting, which won’t be until August 17.
Romanko also told council that extra bylaw enforcement manpower has been deployed to deal with water-use issues. He said that when a complaint is investigated, the resident or business is always given a warning on the first incident but “the second infraction will result in a $200 fine.”