In view of the warmer temperatures and the water restrictions that are now in place in the Town of Osoyoos and the water systems that the Town supports to the west of Osoyoos Lake, it is timely to remind everyone about the water restrictions that apply to residences in the OID, including residences located on agricultural properties. As per OID Bylaw #182, there is only one restriction currently in effect for such properties in the OID (and it applies from June 1 to mid-September):
No residential watering (via automated irrigation systems, lawn sprinklers, etc.) should occur between 8AM and 8PM on any day. However, hand-held hoses, and watering cans (not lawn sprinklers) can be used at any time.
That’s it. Feel free to water on any day between 8PM at night and 8AM the next morning (but please only water when you feel that you need to — there’s no point wasting water). Way easier than figuring out what zone you are in and then which days you can water.
In case you are interested, the main reason that our restrictions differ from those in water systems controlled by the Town is that during the irrigation period (summer), all our water comes from Osoyoos Lake, whereas the Town’s water comes from wells and is treated (we only add chlorine). Also, most water we distribute in summer is for agricultural irrigation – for context, over the last 4 days the OID consumed on average around 8,500 cubic metres of water per day. (1 cubic metre equals 1000 litres, or approximately 264 US gallons). During most of the winter, when there is no irrigation occurring, so all water consumption is residential, OID water consumption (mainly well water, but also some lake water) averages around 200 cubic metres per day (although it is higher when leaks occur). Obviously residential water use is higher in summer than in winter, but even so, by far, most of the water we are currently distributing is being used for agricultural irrigation.
If you notice non hand-held residential watering during the 8AM to 8PM period, and feel comfortable doing so, please feel free to suggest to those doing the watering that they are just wasting water (since most of it will just evaporate), or you can report it to our water bailiff, Bill Stewart (250-498-9656).
Thank you for your cooperation in not wasting water.