North Okanagan starts water restrictions

Water reservoirs in the North Okanagan are at their lowest level ever recorded, prompting the officials to implement restrictions, including a ban on filling up backyard pools.

The stage three water restrictions already in effect in the Vernon area mean residents can't wash their cars and can only water their lawns once a week. Farmers have also been asked to reduce their water consumption by 20 per cent.

Arnold Badke, the general manager of the Regional District of North Okanagan, said they've only gone to level-three water restrictions once in the past and that year it didn't happen until August.

"If we don't conserve it we may be in trouble later on in the year. You have to remember we didn't fill our reservoirs last year, we don't expect to fill them this year. So right now we're effectively mining last year's water," said Badke.

But Sheldon Medway, the operator of Sundance Pool and Spas in Vernon said restricting the use of backyard pools during the Okanagan's hot summers doesn't make sense to him.

"We've reached temperatures of 36, 38 degrees, right? A lot of people are saying, either you can go cool down in your pool, or you're going to have a long cold shower. Either way, you're going to use water," said Medway.

"For this time of the year it's kind of ridiculous. It is April. It's a little early in thegame to be saying that. They're looking at the current water levels and we really haven't had full spring runoff yet," he said.

In March, officials with the provincial river forecast centre warned earlier that the snowpack levels across much of B.C. were well below normal, and that many regions could expect water shortages and more wildfires this summer.

There are already about a dozen wildfires burning across the province according to provincial officials.