With spring arriving unusually dry and snowpack well below normal, the City of Penticton is implementing Stage 2 water restrictions starting May 1.
The South Okanagan is facing continued drought conditions, compounded by unseasonally low precipitation levels, below-average Okanagan Lake and watershed reservoir levels, and low snowpack in the local and regional watersheds.
“Current conditions in local and regional watersheds are significantly drier than average for this time of year and we’re asking residents to conserve water now to help prevent shortages during the peak summer months,” says David Best, Utilities manager. “Stage 2 water restrictions seek to reduce overall water usage by 20 per cent compared to average and will help ensure sufficient water is available to meet demands for the rest of the year.”
Here’s what it means for outdoor watering:
- Odd-numbered street addresses: Tuesday and Saturday only.
- Even-numbered street addresses: Wednesday and Sunday only.
- Townhouses/condos: Follow the street address (not the unit number).
- Mobile home parks: follow unit numbers.
Water only during these times on your watering days:
- Automatic irrigation: 12-6 a.m.
- Manual watering: 6-10 a.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Watering by hand is allowed on any day at any time. Also, anyone who has placed new sod or planted newly seeded lawn may apply for permission to water outside of the restrictions, with more details available by emailing publicworks@penticton.ca.
Remember: Lawns only require 1 inch of water per week and should be kept above 2.5 inches long to promote water retention to make your grass more drought resistant. Visit penticton.ca/water for more information about water restrictions and tips to conserve water this summer.
