Greater Vernon turns to reclaimed water for farms to save crops

Rachelle Zelaney is a farmer in the North Okanagan who had to make the choice to abandon some of her crops, but with support from locals she’s feeling some hope again.

She runs Zelaney Farms with her family in Coldstream, and she made a post about having to abandon some crops because there isn’t enough water to go around, but a move from the local government and some generous neighbours have helped turn things around.

Greater Vernon has been on stage three water restrictions, meaning farmers could only use 30 per cent of the water they typically use. Since there wasn’t enough water for all of her crops, Zelaney had to make the choice to abandon spinach, cabbage and pickling cucumbers.

For weeks she had been doing the math, tracking every drop of water and it got to the point where the numbers didn’t add up.

“It hasn’t been an easy season. There are days where we feel totally defeated and I spend half the day crying. Then there’s days like today where I’m like, ‘wow, there’s amazing humanity in the world’ and I have hope for the remainder of our season,” she said.

She made a video about the situation and posted it on social media and people came together to help her out. Her small farm stand had a huge line out the door and some local farmers cold called her and offered to give her their extra water that they don’t need.

“I honestly can’t believe that a couple of days ago I was saying that we were going to have absolutely none of these crops for the remainder of the season and here I’m thinking about actually seeding something again,” she said. “I’m so incredibly grateful.”

On top of the generosity of her neighbours Zelaney is getting some indirect help from the City of Vernon and Greater Vernon Water through the Regional District of North Okanagan opening up reclaimed water for agriculture.

Greater Vernon Water is a regional utility providing approximately 57,000 people across the City of Vernon, the District of Coldstream, and parts of Electoral Areas B, C, and D with water.

“Prompt support for our agricultural community during this period of drought has been a shared priority for all partners involved,” Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming said in a press release issued, July 29.

Reclaimed water isn’t drinking water, it’s highly treated wastewater that’s being redirected for agricultural use in the Bella Vista and Swan Lake service area.

Zelaney said that even though her farm isn’t in that service area, any additional water helps everyone in the area get their fair share since other water sources won’t have to be spread out.

“We are absolutely thrilled that that water has been deemed safe by Interior Health For food production use which has never happened in our area before. And that farms are going to be able to benefit from it,” she said.

She said that even with everyone helping each other out and the reclaimed water, there are still going to be major losses for farmers in the area.

“The loss in this area is going to be staggering,” she said. “We are all hurting, every single one of us.”

The response from the community has been uplifting and inspiring for Zelaney, and she appreciates the results of the local government’s efforts. But, she wants to be realistic.

“I want people to have the facts,” she said. “Right now I am dealing with the facts of how much water there is. How much water can I use? How much food can I grow?”