Reservoir construction in Enderby will lead to Stage 2 water restrictions for the city's residents starting May 1.
The restrictions will require residents to do things differently to ensure there is enough water to meet community needs, the city said in a press release Thursday.
Residents will be allowed to water their lawn two days per week for a maximum of two hours per day, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The days are determined based on whether a property has an even or odd-numbered address. People with an odd-numbered address can water on Tuesday and Saturday; those with an even-numbered address can water on Wednesday and Sunday.
There are additional limits on automatic irrigation that will require programs to be changed to meet the new requirements.
Under Stage 2 water restrictions, additional watering days are provided for drip irrigation and hand watering of lawns, landscaping, plants, trees, shrubs and flowers, as well as watering that is related to food security, the city said.
The restrictions come as the oldest of the city's two reservoirs is being rebuilt. Construction on the reservoir is expected to wrap up in late September and until then, the entire community is reliant upon a single reservoir for domestic and emergency water use.
"Water conservation reduces water use, which helps to ensure that there is enough water available for everybody," the city said.
In the event of a situation such as a structure fire or a water break that causes a sudden, significant loss of water, the need to replenish water storage to normal levels may require additional temporary, emergency water conservation measures beyond Stage 2 restrictions. There are four stages of water conservation, and a higher stage may be implemented depending on the need to conserve water.
These emergency measures would be announced through the city's emergency app, Alertable, as well as the Our Enderby Facebook page.
More information on Stage 2 water restriction requirements can be found on cityofenderby.com.
A separate project is underway for the Grindrod Water Utility, which is not affected by Stage 2 water restrictions. Grindrod Water Utility is a single building that houses a packaged water treatment system. Raw water is diverted from the Shuswap River and pumped into the single train packaged up-flow clarifier and filtration process. Due to the water treatment process, the piping within the facility has been experiencing corrosion and aging.
In addition to adding two water meters within the treatment plan, this project will upgrade the existing piping and valves to improve reliability and extend the service life of the system.
“This project emphasizes our commitment to ensuring that our community has access to safe, clean, and reliable water,” said Allysa Hopkins, director of RDNO Electoral Area F. “These upgrades will enhance the lifespan of our water treatment facility and support the long-term sustainability and health of our residents. We are dedicated to investing in the future of our community, and this project is a step in that direction.”
