Regional water conservation projects receive water board funding

PENTICTON – The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen has received some welcome grant funding from the Okanagan Basin Water Board.

The RDOS recently received grant funding for two water conservation projects, in the form of $28,840 from the OBWB to support Phase two of the Regional Water Use Regulation and Conservation Bylaw and Phase one of the Regional Drought and Flood Risk Management and Mitigation Plan.

The Regional Water Use Regulation and Conservation Bylaw was introduced to unify water use standards throughout the regional district by conserving water, improving efficiency and promoting sustainable water management. The bylaw also works to integrate drought management recommendations; to include cross connection control requirements and provide consistent interpretation of regulations throughout the region.

This bylaw’s first phase is now underway thanks to a water conservation and quality improvement grant received in 2014/2015 from the Okanagan Basin Water Board. Phase two is intended to complete the work needed to bring the final bylaw to implementation stage.

Funding was also received for the Regional Drought and Flood Risk Management and Mitigation Plan, the purpose of which is to add to the regional district’s ability to protect against water shortages and flooding events.  The plan will allow the RDOS to be prepared for overly wet or dry years.

In the first phase of the Regional Drought and Flood Risk Management and Mitigation Plan, data gathering and consulting to assess existing water sources and users will be undertaken. Studies of past droughts and floods, their impacts and the factors that might reduce or intensify the local effects will also be analyzed. Existing or required drought and flood protection will also be assessed.

The Water Conservation and Quality Improvement grant is provided annually by the OBWB in support of water quality and conservation initiatives within the Okanagan water basin.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.