Next Saturday, November 6, OID water will be shut off so that the reservoir can be cleaned and the water source changed over to (predominantly) well water. In order to clean the reservoir it must be emptied, and due to recent land use changes adjacent to the reservoir, it is no longer possible to drain it there. Consequently, in contrast to previous years when the lakeside pumps were shut off at 9-10PM on the Friday before the scheduled reservoir cleaning, and any remaining water was drained from the reservoir on the Saturday morning, in order to completely empty the reservoir by 8AM on Saturday, the pumps will be shut off earlier, at 7PM on Friday 5 November. After this time, the only water available for consumption is what is contained in the reservoir (until it empties) and in the pipes.

This earlier pump shut-off means that it is much more likely that more properties will experience a lack of water and water pressure on Saturday 6 November than has been the case in the recent past. (Properties closest to the lake are still the least likely to be affected).

We apologize in advance for the inconvenience. It is expected that water service will be restored no later than 2PM on Saturday 6 November, and possibly earlier.

** Note that the boil water notice will continue to be in effect even after the changeover to well water is completed, since periodically water demand in winter exceeds the amount that can be pumped from the well, in which case lake water is automatically added to the well water in the system to maintain sufficient water quantity and water pressure. Although we had the water in our system tested last February, and it passed all the health tests, this result is clearly dependent on how much lake water is being mixed with well water at the time. Our records suggest that the proportion of lake water in the system is likely to be highest for two weeks or so after the changeover and from mid-February onwards (until we change back to lake water in mid April). Interior Health has advised us that they will not consider removing the boil-water notice for the OID in winter until there is no lake water at all in the system (unless it is fully treated to render it potable). The OID Board is currently working on resolving this long-standing issue.

FortisBC has just advised us today that they will be working on some power lines this Friday and as a result there will be no power to our well or booster pump on Friday 15 October between 9 AM and Noon. We are not currently using the well (that starts on Nov 6) but properties closer to the north-eastern boundary of the OID, which are served by the line that goes through the booster pump, will be affected, with little or no water and water pressure during that time.

Once the irrigation period ends and water demand is lowered, the water source for the OID will be changed from lake water to well water. It is currently anticipated that this changeover will occur on Saturday November 6, 2021. Associated with the changeover, the reservoir has to be emptied and cleaned. As a result, there will be a water supply disruption (affecting both water availability and water pressure) on Saturday November 6, which is expected to last from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Note that the boil water notice will continue to be in effect even after the changeover to well water is completed since periodically water demand in winter exceeds the amount that can be pumped from the well, in which case lake water is automatically added to the well water in the system to maintain sufficient quantity and water pressure.

The 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Osoyoos Irrigation District will be held on Tuesday 14 September starting at 7PM upstairs in the Osoyoos Legion Hall.

The main items on the Agenda of the 2021 AGM include:
1. Approval of the Agenda. 2. Approval and Adoption of the minutes of the 2020 AGM. 3. Introduction of current OID Board members. 4. Discussion and Approval of the 2020 Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report. 5. Reports from the Chair and from the Bailiff. 6. Matters arising from 2020 minutes. 7. Other Business. 8. Elections for two Board members for 3-year terms and one Board member for a two-year term.

Copies of the minutes of the 2020 AGM and the 2020 financial statements will be provided at the AGM.

We do need more people to attend the AGM, not only to stand for election to the Board, but also to discuss a proposal to drill a second well in order to try to move off a boil water advisory for the winter period. One of the conditions that Interior Health has specified for removing the boil water notice is that we do not use any lake water. This is impossible during the summer period in view of the extremely large volume of water required for irrigation, but it could be achieved in winter when water is just used for residential purposes if we could increase the supply of well water. The Board is confident that this additional well could be drilled without increasing water rates.

COVID-19 requirements imposed by the BC Public Health Officer (PHO) for the AGM:

(i) Based on recent announcements from the BC Government and PHO, it appears that BC Vaccination  Passports, demonstrating proof of at least one COVID vaccine shot, will have to be shown at the door (Supposedly this requirement comes into force on September 13). Since it is not yet clear when or how the passports will be available, or how this passport-checking process is supposed to work, we may also accept the cards received when you had your COVID vaccination as sufficient proof. 
(ii) Participation is limited to a maximum of 50 people. Based on the past few years, this should not be a constraint for us, but If more than 50 attend, the meeting will be held in parts with each part limited to 50 people. 
(iii) At the AGM all participants must provide their first and last name and a contact phone number or email address to allow contact tracing by the PHO should that become necessary. 
(iv) There is sufficient space in the hall for seats to be separated by two metres if needed. The wearing of face masks is also required by the PHO. Hand sanitizer will be available. 
(v) It is a requirement that you do NOT attend the AGM if you are sick, have had symptoms of COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to the AGM, or are under the direction of the PHO to self-isolate.

There will be a water outage on Friday May 28 from 10AM until Noon to allow a diver to clean the intake screens for the lake pumps. During this time the pumps (which refill the reservoir) have to be turned off, and as the reservoir empties, water pressure will drop and some properties may be without water.

(This possible outage has been changed from Thursday May 27 to Friday May 28 due to expected adverse weather conditions that will make lake diving dangerous on Thursday).

On Saturday April 10, we will change over from well water to lake water in order to facilitate irrigation for the summer months. We will change back to well water when the irrigation season has ended, at the end of October. Just a reminder that due to the use of lake water, even though it is chlorinated, a Boil Water Notice remains in effect.

Water invoices (tolls and taxes) for 2021 have been put in the mail. Payment is due by April 30, 2021. Any amount outstanding after that date will attract a penalty. Payment can be made by e-transfer, cheque, or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). If you would like an electronic version, send us an email.

Once the irrigation period ends and water demand is lowered, the water source for the OID will be changed from lake water to well water. It is currently anticipated that this changeover will occur on Saturday November 7, 2020. Associated with the changeover, the reservoir has to be emptied and cleaned. As a result, there will be a water supply disruption (affecting both water availability and water pressure) on Saturday November 7, which is expected to last from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Note that the boil water notice will continue to be in effect even after the changeover to well water is completed since periodically water demand in winter exceeds the amount that can be pumped from the well, in which case lake water is automatically added to the well water in the system to maintain sufficient quantity and water pressure.

The annual irrigation season will end on October 31, 2020. If you require assistance with shutting off your irrigation, please contact the water bailiff. Water should not be used for irrigation after this date until the new irrigation season begins in mid April, 2021.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Osoyoos Irrigation District (OID) had to be postponed from when it is usually held in April, due to restrictions imposed by the BC Public Health Officer (PHO) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now been rescheduled to:

Tuesday October 27, starting at 7 PM, at the Legion Hall in Osoyoos. 

The main items on the Agenda of the AGM include:
1. Approval of the Agenda. 2. Approval and Adoption of the minutes of the 2019 AGM.** 3. Introduction of the current OID Board members. 4. Discussion and Approval of the 2019 Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report.** 5. Reports from the Chair and from the Bailiff. 6. Matters arising from 2019 minutes. 7. Other Business. 8. Elections for two Board members for 3-year terms.

**Copies of the minutes of the 2019 AGM and the 2019 financial statements will be provided at the AGM.

COVID-19 requirements for the AGM as imposed by Provincial Health Officer :

(i) Participation is limited to a maximum of 50 people. If more than 50 attend, the meeting will be held in parts with each part limited to 50 people. 
(ii) At the AGM all participants must provide their first and last name and a contact phone number or email address to allow contact tracing by the Provincial Health Officer should that become necessary. 
(iii) Two metre physical distancing between individuals is required – chairs will be spaced accordingly, although they can be moved closer together for people in the same “bubble”.  The wearing of face masks is encouraged.  Hand sanitizer will be available. 
(iv) It is a requirement that you do NOT attend if you are sick, have had symptoms of COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to the AGM, are under the direction of the PHO to self-isolate, or have arrived from outside Canada in the last 14 days.

If you have any questions about the rescheduled AGM, please email us. We look forward to seeing you at the AGM on October 27.