WATER USE – Mayor urges usage reductions in face of drought conditions
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is urging Kamloops residents to be proactive by reducing personal and commercial water use as drought conditions worsen.
Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, briefed mayors and chairs Thursday (July 13, 2023) on the provincial drought status. The North and South Thompson water basins are currently classified as Level 4 drought severity on a scale of 0–5.
“We are currently seeing unprecedented levels of drought throughout the Province, so I want to encourage all Kamloops residents to do what they can to reduce their water use,” said Hamer-Jackson.
“We all draw from the same water source, and there are small things we can all do to make a difference.”
The City’s drought response team has been meeting regularly on the City’s response and has put in place a 25 per cent overall reduction in City irrigation and up to a 50 per cent reduction in irrigation for non-playing fields.
For more tips on how to conserve water, visit Kamloops.ca/WaterSmart.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
And Council approves a new car wash downtown…
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The Law of Conservation of Energy needs some examination as our Province experiences increased periods of drought.
Once thought to be a “source” of energy that could not be depleted, the water resources in our Province are “taking a beating” with climate change, less snowfall, less rain and the continued melting of glaciers.
Hydro power (energy converted from water based resource to electricity) is not an endless supply. The mad rush to covert everything to electric power has to be tempered with reason. Local governments can ensure all new buildings have charging stations for electric vehicles but the electricity for the charging stations doesn’t come from thin air.
Solar power (not much transforming of light energy into electric energy during the winter months) is an option as are wind turbines (low frequency noise and harmful to wildlife). Dare we consider nuclear energy to transform the potential energy of matter into electricity?
Conserving water, on the advice of folks who are now giving the message, is actually giving the message of a change in lifestyle.
Thanks, Mayor Hamer-Jackson.
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Start with shutting down all commercial car washes in the city. If you put on more water restrictions don’t issue warnings for offenders. Issue fines. Money talks. Stop watering city parks, boulevards and roadways. If homeowners have to conserve water then so should the city. Drought is drought. Take it seriously enough and be brave enough to implement tough restrictions and then follow through on offenders.
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Very well said Louise. For example the plastic turf at Hillside stadium takes millions of litres of water to keep it useable.
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