Last November, a valve on the Osoyoos Irrigation District’s (OID) main pipeline was replaced. A second valve, on a branch pipeline that feeds the northwest section of the OID, was also scheduled to be replaced at that time, but the work could not be completed. This second valve needs to be installed ahead of the irrigation season, and that work is now scheduled to be done next Wednesday, March 22, resulting in a possible water outage to some properties.
Due to the loop nature of our pipelines, two valves will have to be closed to facilitate the work and the lakeside pumps must be shut down. Specifically, the recently-installed valve on 52 Ave will be closed, as will a valve on 33 Street near the TELUS tower. The main pumps will be turned off at 8AM, with work expected to be completed sometime in the afternoon. Water from the reservoir, supplemented – to the extent possible – with water from the well, will be available to all properties other than:
(i) those fed by the branch pipeline that runs along 31 Street and then beyond to the northwest section of the OID.
(ii) properties on 41 Street, 39 Street, and the northern part of 37 Street (even-numbered properties from 3820 and up).
(iii) properties on 33 Street, north of the TELUS tower.
Water that is already in the pipelines will be available to these affected properties, but this supply cannot be replenished until the work is completed, so water outages and/or water pressure loss may occur. Similarly, other than via the well, the reservoir cannot be replenished during the outage. Hence, depending on water consumption during that time, outages and/or pressure losses may be experienced elsewhere in the OID.
Currently, we are still using as much water as the well can produce, but this has become insufficient to meet water demand. Most recent data indicate that about 1/3 of the OID’s daily water requirements are now being satisfied using lake water.
The projected date for shutting down the well and allowing irrigation to begin is Sat April 8. Please do not use any irrigation systems before this changeover.
Please email us if you have any questions about this outage.