GVW Backing Off Tighter Water Rules

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has agreed that Greater Vernon Water   Stage 1   restrictions will remain, despite the provincial government in Victoria asking for a 30 per cent reduction in water consumption throughout the province.

At least it should be GVAC who say yae or nay to bureaucratic recommendations based on their "trigger level tree" for water restrictions.

"Although residential, agricultural and industrial users within municipalities and regional districts backed by reservoir storage are less vulnerable to water supply shortages than water users served by smaller water systems from streams, lakes and wells, all water users are encouraged to observe local water conservation bylaws to prolong water supplies and to maintain flows for fish and ecosystems," (whew...gasp...quite the mouthful) states the Morning Star on Victoria's statement.

But it's not just because Greater Vernon Water customers are on reservoirs that GVW has backed off issuing Stage 2 water restrictions.  Turns out that bureaucrats are finally (imagine!) catching on to the concept that a lower revenue stream adversely affects their ability to fund maintenance and infrastructure projects outside of the Master Water Plan.

Added to that is the hue and cry from customers, many of whom have seen base rates (for using no water) climb to such ridiculous dollar amounts that the base rate now exceeds their annual water consumption!

Those aren't the only reasons bureaucrats are shying away from imposing Stage 2 restrictions.

Many residents frequent the Aberdeen Plateau for recreation, some of whom have submitted photos and expressed concern that water restrictions are politically motivated; indeed fabricated.

Then consider that the coming winter is forecast to see the strongest el Nino in 50 years.

Then consider too that locally heavy rains, including flooding, have recently occurred with the Aberdeen Plateau receiving "almost weekly 'dumps'," according to one observer.

There's simply no valid and supportable reason to impose tighter water restrictions in the North Okanagan's GVW system, no matter what the Okanagan Basin Water Board--or the seat of our government in Victoria--says.

"There's tons of water out there," attests Kia, adding "certainly as voluminous as the smoke 'n mirrors from bureaucrats." 

Closing off with a few photos...of yet another "dump" of rain last night.
Note:  the Aberdeen Plateau is visible on the horizon.
Or not...as rain was so heavy, the hills almost disappeared.
And even with this cheap little camera, large raindrops are visible in the landscape closeups!

  Where are my rubber boots?