Courtesy: B.C. Government

By Amandalina Letterio

DROUGHT WARNING

North and South Thompson basins one level down from severe drought

Aug 10, 2021 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia is currently in a drought and the province is reminding residents to conserve water supply – especially in the North and South Thompson basins, which are at Level Four.

That’s just one level down from extreme drought conditions (Level Five), which is where the Kettle Basin located in the Kootenay region sits.

Some areas in the northern part of the province have recently received healthy showers that alleviated most dry conditions, but the rainfall received in some southern areas have not had a considerable effect on water scarcity relief.

The North and South Thompson basins, as well as the Salmon River, Coldwater River and Nicola River watersheds in the Thompson Okanagan region, are all being affected.

With more dry heat expected in the forecast, drought conditions are expected to exacerbate many southern areas.

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Many freshwater angling closures are in place throughout B.C. due to increased stress to fish from low flows and high-water temperatures.

The province is encouraging residents to consciously use less water.

If conservation measures do not achieve sufficient results and drought conditions worsen, regulatory action may be taken under the Water Sustainability Act, the government said in a release.

This includes temporary protection orders issued to water licensees to avoid significant or irreversible harm to aquatic ecosystems. Provincial staff are actively monitoring the situation and working to balance water uses with environmental flow needs.

Water used to extinguish a fire or contain and control the spread of a fire is exempt with provincial approval.

General water conservation tips include:

• Limiting outdoor watering
• Not watering during the heat of the day or when it is windy
• Considering planting drought-tolerant vegetation
• Taking shorter showers
• Not leaving taps running
• Installing water-efficient showerheads, taps and toilets
• Implementing an irrigation scheduling program using real-time weather data
• Scheduling irrigation to match crop needs and soil storage capacity
• Improving water system efficiencies and checking for leaks
• Focusing on high-value crops and livestock
• Reducing non-essential water use
• Recycling water used in industrial operations
• Using water-efficient methods and equipment.

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