WATER CONSERVATION

The District's water conservation program is intended to promote efficient use of water resources to ensure the maximum benefit can be obtained from the available water supply and minimize the need to develop costly new water sources. Efficient water use also saves money through lower operating costs and deferred capital costs.

North Americans are the highest consumers of water in the world, and their rates are the lowest. The average Canadian uses about 350 liters of water for household use every day. Water usage is a habit that develops over time. Bad habits are hard to change, but with a little knowledge our habits can be gradually modified. The cost of water is very affordable if we adopt good habits in our daily water use. If you and your family adopt the simple habits listed below, you can reduce your water consumption by as much as 50%.

Small Drips Equal Big Losses!

One small drip can waste as much a 75 liters of water a day! Make sure that precious water isn't leaking down the drain or hitting the gutter without nourishing your grass, trees and plants.

• Repair Leaky faucets and always turn off your taps tightly so they don't drip.
• Consider auto irrigation for your lawn and garden.
• Adjust sprinkler timers or place a tin can on the lawn to measure how long it takes to collect one inch of water. That's how little your lawn needs each week even during warm weather.
• Check your toilets for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, colour appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak and it should be repaired immediately.
• Install water-efficient plumbing fixtures such as low-flow shower heads and toilets that use six liters of water or less per flush. If you have an older toilet, simply place a weighted plastic bottle filled with water or sand in the water tank to reduce the amount of water per flush.
• Adjust the water level of your washing machine and use cold or warm water instead of hot.

More Water Doesn't Always Mean More Green

A typical lawn only needs about an inch of water each week.

Most shrubs and trees only need water once a week.

Lawns look healthier with moderate watering every 3 - 5 days rather than watering for a short period every day.

WATER RESTRICTIONS

In the District of Peachland, Stage 1 water restrictions remain in effect regardless of the abundance of water as the restrictions reduce water consumption which decrease the demand on the reservoirs and reduces water treatment costs. If conditions change, there are 4 stages of water restrictions that may be enacted. The status of the District's water storage is evaluated frequently and changes may occur at any time. Sign up to be e-notified of water restrictions and other municipal news at www.peachland.ca/newsletters

Stage 1 Restrictions - ALTERNATE DAYS

• Even numbered addresses - watering permitted on even calendar days
• Odd numbered addresses - watering permitted on odd calendar days
• Automatic sprinklers - midnight to 6:00 am on permitted days
• Manually controlled sprinklers - 6 am to 11 am and 6 pm to midnight on permitted days
• Watering not permitted between 11 am and 6 pm

Stage 2 Restrictions - TWICE A WEEK

• Even numbered addresses - watering permitted on Saturdays and Tuesdays
• Odd numbered addresses - watering permitted on Sundays and Wednesdays
• Automatic sprinklers - midnight to 6:00 am on permitted days
• Manually controlled sprinklers - 6 am to 11 am and 6 pm to midnight on permitted days
• Watering not permitted between 11 am and 6 pm

Stage 3 Restrictions - ONCE A WEEK

• Even numbered addresses - watering permitted on Saturdays
• Odd numbered addresses - watering permitted on Sundays
• Automatic sprinklers - midnight to 6:00 am on permitted days
• Manually controlled sprinklers - 6 am to 10 am and 7 pm to 11 pm on permitted days
• Watering not permitted between 10 am and 7 pm
• No filling pools, tubs, ponds or fountains
• No washing vehicles or boats

Stage 4 - NO OUTDOOR WATERING

• No use of water outdoors for any purpose

GREEN CREDITS POLICY

The purpose of establishing a green credits policy is to provide a water consumption credit to qualifying irrigation water users, with properties between ½ and 2 acres in size (referred to as "grey area properties‟) which qualify annually under certain food production criteria.

• Green Credits Policy

Do you Qualify?

You may be eligible for a credit for water consumption costs if:

• Your property is between 1/2 and 2 acres and does not have farm status.
• You grow food for direct human consumption on at least 1/4 acre of your property.
• You have a water efficient irrigation system in place.
• You have a separate meter to record irrigation consumption.

The Green Credit Policy above includes an application form.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further conservation or drought information in the Okanagan please visit the following websites:

• Okanagan Basin Water Board - www.okwb.ca
• Okanagan WaterWise - www.okwaterwise.ca