DROUGHT – Tighter water use restrictions to begin August 14
(Image: ArmchairMayor.ca)
City of Kamloops announced today (Aug. 3, 2023) it will implement enhanced water use restrictions and enforcement aimed at reducing city-wide water use effective August 14, 2023.
The decision came in response to the provincial move to Drought Level 5. The Province made the announcement earlier today based on historically low river levels in the North and South Thompson River basins as a way to help conserve water supply and protect the environment.
Impending restrictions include a ban on outdoor watering and irrigating, with the exception of hand-held, spring-loaded nozzles. Irrigating by use of sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems is not permitted. Washing of vehicles and boats will only be permitted at commercial wash locations unless washing for safety purposes. Pressure washing for aesthetic purposes will not be permitted.
Drought Level 5 is the most severe level of drought and indicates that adverse impacts to socio-economic or ecosystem values are almost certain. Extreme drought conditions threaten salmon and other fish due to the reduced flow rates and increased temperature within our rivers and streams.
“The current extreme drought conditions require drastic measures from residents and business owners to help conserve our water supply for domestic use and fire suppression and to protect our environment,” the City said.
The City has already adjusted its irrigation systems to reduce water use by 25 per cent; however, irrigation of playing fields and public spaces will continue in order “to prevent severe damage or loss of public assets and spaces.”
If drought conditions persist and further a reduction of City irrigation is required, there may be an impact on playing field bookings to protect the fields from damage, the news release said.
Further information and weekly updates on water use are available at Kamloops.ca/Drought.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Just a suggestion for “journalists” (who get paid to report) in the area. A few weeks ago I noted on this blog that the original watering restrictions in Kamloops were all about the cost of pumping to reservoirs, not the supply of water. Curious about the actual supply issue I did a little digging. It turns out that part of the original Ajax mine environmental impact study included a detailed historical flow analysis of the Thompson River.
Perhaps someone who actually gets paid to be a reporter ( not the volunteer host here) could look into it.
Since you have to be willfully blind to not suspect a touch of hyperbole regarding weather reporting now a days… see global boiling; perhaps an intrepid reporter could do some actual reporting. It might be a refreshing change from rewriting press releases.
I suggest the boys from NL Radio since they seem to be so evidently smarter than the rest of us.
Hint: river flow rate in cubic meters/second x seconds/day – cubic meters extracted/day by water plant. Calculate percentage of total flow removed. Don’t forget to factor treated water returned.
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Now if the City would just enforce it. We have a neighbor that waters whenever he feels like it and constantly leaves the sprinkler on for many hours at a time and not on his day. I have seen city vehicles drive by and not do anything. What is the point of making rules if nobody enforces them?
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