For Immediate Release June 14, 2023 Town of Oliver and Rural Domestic Water System Customers Stage 1 Water Restrictions Take Effect Effective June 15…
Water Restrictions – Stage 2
For Immediate Release July 11, 2023 Town of Oliver and Rural Water System Customers Stage 2 Water Restrictions Take Effect Effective July 12, 2023,…
Kathy says
Hmmmmm…., well Jack, interesting you seem to have a problem with farmers (businesses) who chose to grow grapes rather than “edibles”. As a matter of fact, grapes are edible, wine is considered a food product and the BC Cider industry relies on orchard fruit for its existence. You can not dictate the nature of the businesses in which people chose to invest. But, alas we have strayed off topic so let’s save that discourse for another time.
As Jessica pointed out, you misinterpreted my original query, “why are we increasing the valley’s population when we clearly don’t have the ability to offer a stable water supply for both residential and agriculture?” When I say “the valley” I mean the entire Okanagan valley, not just Oliver. Not all Okanagan farmers draw water from the ditch. As Bill mentioned, many farmers rely on well water which is directly tied to the aquifer supply which also services residential needs. When water tables lower, this poses a direct conflict between services for these two entities. Who commands the greater need? The OWBB has decided residential comes first putting many farmers in peril. This has caused me to ask, why are we inviting more people into the Okanagan when we evidently can not support both existing residential and farming water needs?
Publisher: Define “many”! My reliable sources say less than ten percent
Jessica Murphy says
Dear Editor: I believe you misinterpreted Kathy’s inquiry. She did not indicate a disinclination for local low cost housing, she did not suggest only grape growers should receive irrigation water, and she certainly never compared the problems of Osoyoos to the benefits of Oliver. (Which I wholeheartedly believe in.) Her question was clear: if water use by farmers is restricted, why is that happening? Is there a lack of water in the Okanagan water system? And if there is, why is residential use of water given priority over agricultural use? Or are the restrictions on water use just some made up, ‘the-sky-is-falling’ climate change is’ a coming governmental hookwinking?
Publisher: this is the KM statement I disputed “We are predominantly an agricultural area, yet water is diverted to residences first before agriculture.” This is not correct. Domestic water comes from wells – ag water from the river/ditch. Only diverting is at McIntyre Bluff.
Bill Eggert says
Much of agricultural water comes from wells. the ministry is asking those with wells to reduce, and if we get to Stage 5, discontinue use of the wells.
the ministry also points out that use of surface water directly affects the level of aquifers. The ministry has not replied to my requests for links to these studies.
Publisher: How much is “much of” ?
Is the alcohol industry on agriculture land and water systems?
Kathy Mercier says
Interesting, water restrictions yet again being enacted yet developers continue to be allowed to build housing to grow the valley’s population.
We are predominantly an agricultural area, yet water is diverted to residences first before agriculture.
Why are we increasing the valley’s population when we evidentially don’t have to capacity to supply the current population?
Am I missing something here?
Looking for enlightenment
Publisher says
“Interesting, water restrictions yet again being enacted yet developers continue to be allowed to build housing to grow the valley’s population.
We are predominantly an agricultural area, yet water is diverted to residences first before agriculture.
Why are we increasing the valley’s population when we evidentially don’t have to capacity to supply the current population?
Am I missing something here?
Looking for enlightenment”
Publisher: Let us start at the bottom:
ODN is the enlightenment
Yes you are missing something Kathy
I believe we have capacity for much more low cost housing in our area without curtailing water from entering USA from our headwaters
A couple of assertions:
the only thing diverted is Okanagan River to canal at McIntyre Bluff
exclusively for farmers
Potable water from wells inside Oliver supply domestic service in rural area and town
Effluent water supplied to FMGC and Airport (Purple hydrants)
The main question is … Development is good or bad ???
Should the development of all kinds of housing be limited by the lust for profit from the “alcohol” industry which IMHO is not orchards, ground croppers that produce edibles
Kathy have you noticed ” boil water advisories” in Osoyoos, Shitty smell from a sewage system. This from one of the richest civic revenue streams in BC. Oliver the Pride of the SO – no smell no boil water – most potable water in a rural areas – a park system bar none, a hospital, a movie theater, a performing theatre, great land use – small footprint with up zoning – large ag doughnut around it