Water-Centric Planning

The Rutland Waterworks District (RWD) was commissioned in 1949 to serve about 50 properties in the Rutland area of Kelowna. At that time, the district held a water license for Mission Lake, located in the Greystokes. After recognizing potential groundwater sources, RWD relinquished its license on the surface water supply and built its first well into the Greater Kelowna Aquifer in the 1960s. The district now operates 15 active wells.

Have you ever wondered where Revelstoke water comes from and where it goes after it’s been used? Revelstoke’s water comes from the Greeley watershed, which receives some of the highest snowfalls in North America. Located east of Revelstoke behind Mt. Mackenzie, the watershed covers almost 50 square km.

The City of Salmon Arm’s WaterWise program manager, Eugene Lalonde, can now say with certainty that “residents favour wise water use.” Findings from in-home water audits conducted during the summer of 2005 show conclusively that residents are becoming more aware of the need for water-use efficiency, and are more prepared to take the necessary steps to achieve it.

During the summer of 2005, the City of Penticton’s Water Smart Ambassadors surveyed residents to determine their watering habits. They were thrilled to find that 99 percent of those surveyed agreed that water conservation is important, and that the majority of residents have adopted the City’s new watering restrictions.

The five major water utilities serving the west side of Okanagan Lake near Kelowna are working together to ensure a sustainable, affordable, and high-quality water resource for future generations.

By using a water model, the city can assess its water system and identify and rectify any potential deficiencies. Valuable information gathered through the water modeling exercise can determine how the distribution system will react to emergencies during high-demand periods. A water model also helps with fire protection planning.

On July 20, 2005, the Village of Lumby launched its Water-use Efficiency Program. In keeping with the newly adopted Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, a Stage-1 water conservation threshold was declared that introduced water sprinkling regulations, a public education program, and a more stringent water level monitoring program for village wells. This was well received by residents, and resulted in excellent voluntary compliance.

The Westbank Irrigation District (WID) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce construction of its Powers Creek Water Treatment Plant. It is expected that the total cost to complete the water treatment plant and treated water reservoir will be about $18 million. WID presently has reserves of about $8.5 million, which will be utilized to offset these construction costs. Earlier this year, ratepayers approved WID borrowing of up to $13 million.

Federal, provincial, and local governments have created many acts, regulations, and bylaws that are administered by various jurisdictions each having different mandates. The Fraser Basin Council has put all these water-related guidelines into one document.

As consumers begin to demand environmental responsibility from suppliers of goods and services, the companies that respond positively will have a competitive advantage over those that do not. The result is increased revenues. But can businesses incorporate sustainable operating practices without greatly increasing costs? The answer is yes. In fact, by increasing eco-efficiency, costs can be significantly decreased.