BY ROY WOOD

Alternating-days lawn watering is the new normal in Osoyoos under the water conservation bylaws passed by council Monday.

The ability of residents and businesses to water on all days has been eliminated and sprinkling is permitted on odd-numbered days for odd-numbered addresses and on even days for even addresses.

The restrictions apply to the town and to the rural areas that use town water.

Other restrictions include:

• Automatic sprinklers may only operate between midnight and 6 a.m.;
• Manual sprinklers may operate only between 6 and 10 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight;
• No lawn sprinkling of any kind between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.;
• Water hoses can be used to wash boats or vehicles only if they are equipped with automatic shut-off nozzles;
• No washing of sidewalks, driveways or parking lots except in preparation for re-surfacing or re-covering.

More stringent restrictions are included in the bylaws for times when the town faces a water shortage or needs to conserve water for some other reason.

Through the four stages or water shortage, restrictions go from twice a week watering all the way to the emergency level at which “No person shall use water outdoors for any purpose.” The restrictions go into effect April 18, however enforcement will not begin until May 2. The town will hire a summer student to provide education and monitoring.

Progress continues on water twinning

Contracts will likely be tendered this fall for work in twinning the town’s water system into the so-called System 8 service area.

Thanks to a grant from the provincial Gas Tax program, the four-phase, $3.7 million project will begin to bring the area into compliance with the Interior Health Authority and the Drinking Water Protection Act. The area in question is north of 74th Avenue on the west side of Highway 97 and north of 92nd Avenue on the east side of the highway.