Kamloops reports 16 per cent reduction in water use after Drought Level 4 restrictions implemented

That drop in consumption comes as lawn watering is only allowed one day a week instead of three. Plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered by sprinklers one day a week or as needed by hand, while drip irrigation is also still allowed three days a week, with water days determined by the last two digits of the street address.

Washing of boats and vehicles with a spring-loaded nozzle or a pressure washer is still permitted while the washing of hard surfaces like sidewalks, driveways and patios is only allowed with the use of a pressure washer.

Commercial car washes can still operate as normal while people can still fill swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds and fountains.

The city bases its restrictions on the provincial drought classification on the South Thompson River, which is currently at Level 3, after a couple weeks at Level 4. That’s not to say the situation has resolved itself as hot and dry conditions persist.

“We follow the directions of the province, which does calculations to show what the river levels will be,” Wagner added. “It’s not only for us, it’s for people downstream of us, its for the environment downstream of us.

“We want to make sure we’re proactive. That we stay on top of things and that we have water for when we need it.”

At Monday’s (July 27) Safety and Security Select Committee meeting, Kamloops Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc said it’s important to also ensure there is enough water in the city’s reservoirs in the event there is a large fire.

“If we have a large fire, we can burn through those reservoir reserves quite fast and it takes an extended amount of time to build up those reservoirs again,” Uzeloc said. “If we have a whole bunch of people using the water, that puts it down low to start.”

Wagner added the city is “well-situated” with its reservoirs and it has the fire protection it needs, based on the current situation.

“Everything is running well from an infrastructure point of view, this is strictly to conserve water for the people downstream of us,” Wagner reiterated. “It’s good for the environment, good for the fish habitats. There’s lot of other things to think about than just green grass.

The city says it is doing its part to reduce its own water use, though sports fields will still be maintained. Wagner added all city infrastructure has been checked, so if you notice anything that seems off, report it to Civic Operation by phone at 250-828-3461 or by email.

“Just like they call in a pot hole, for example, call it in and we’ll get out there and get it fixed asap because we want to conserve the water that we should be conserving,” Wagner said.

This is the first time the city has enhanced its water-use rules since year-round water restrictions were implemented in 2024. The city has reached Drought Level 5 in the past, under its previous odd-even watering rules, and Wagner hopes additional restrictions aren’t needed.

He added while that 16 per cent reduction in water use is welcome news, the effects of cutting back on usage will be studied and adjustments will be made for future years.

“It’s not like this is going to be the only year we do this as we all experience the effects of climate change,” Wagner said. “But I think its a very positive step in the right direction to see the residents responding the way they have.”

More information about the city’s water restrictions and water conservation tips can be found h ere.

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops reports 16 per cent reduction in water use after Drought Level 4 restrictions implemented

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