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South Okanagan Photos

Water meters get closer in Osoyoos

By ROY WOOD

Residential water metering came a step closer in Osoyoos on Monday with council’s acceptance of a consultant’s report as a “key strategic planning document.”

The report is part of a broad push – called the BC Living Water Smart Initiative — aimed at reducing residential, industrial, commercial and institutional water use across the province.

Commenting on the report and its recommendations, Mayor Sue McKortoff said: “It’s very likely that water metering will be the long-term result.”

Under such a system, residential and other users pay for their water based on the volume they use, rather than on a flat-rate basis.

According to the report, such systems are effective in reducing water use. “Well-structured metered rates provide financial incentives for conserving water and have historically resulted in reductions of 20 to 25 per cent in overall consumption,” says the executive summary.

The town of Oliver introduced metering in 2010. There was an early dramatic drop in consumption, but it has been creeping back up since then.

Amoung the finding in the Osoyoos report’s review of water consumption patterns were:

  • The largest contributor to high consumption is summer lawn watering, particularly in single-family residential neighborhoods;
  • Summer consumption is increased by the large numbers of tourists using commercial properties;
  • Water use at industrial and retail properties is generally in line with what s required to do business.

Besides a water metering regime, the report looks at other strategies to reduce consumption, including: dry landscaping; low flow fixtures; lawn watering restrictions; education and public awareness; leak repairs; and water audits for high-use customers.

The report, from Urban Systems of Kelowna, provides an implementation strategy for the town, including these steps:

  • Confirmation of support for the selected strategies;
  • Preparation of bylaws requiring low-flow fixtures and dry landscaping for new developments;
  • Investigation of available grants and funding programs;
  • Seeking public feedback on the idea of universal water metering;
  • A dialogue with key stakeholders; and
  • Identification and planning of the budget and resources required.

The goal for Osoyoos, as laid out in the Water Smart Initiative, is a 33-per-cent reduction in water use from 2010 to 2020.

So far, according to the report, the town is roughly 70 per cent of the way to the goal.

“Overall, it appears that Osoyoos is making strong progress towards achieving (its) water conservation goals. With a renewed focus on water conservation efforts and implementation of the strategies recommended in this study, this trend is expected to continue,” the report states.