How you can protect and preserve our drinking water

In the Interior Health region, many residents live within a few minutes of a lake, stream or other body of water. It might seem like safe, clean, drinking water is everywhere—but it’s not so simple.

If you’ve been following the news, you may already be aware that meteorologists and climatologists are worried about how dry conditions are in the Interior. The snowpack is low in many places this year, which means water reservoirs are below ideal levels.

The summer of 2023 brought historic drought conditions to the Interior of our province, reaching the maximum level 5 in most areas. Drought not only affects our health, but it also affects our ecosystems, livestock, agriculture and economies.

Dr. Silvina Mema is IH’s deputy chief medical health officer. “We see water everywhere here in the B.C. Interior, so it’s easy to take it for granted,” she says. “A safe supply of water is required to lead a healthy lifestyle. If we don’t protect our water, this may translate into impacts to our health and well-being down the road. If there isn’t enough water, there won’t be enough irrigation to grow our crops, which can lead to food insecurity and economic loss to producers. It’s all inter-related. It’s important for the public to understand that reliable, safe and clean water is a limited resource, and we need to protect it.”

Many of us are familiar with spring and summer watering restrictions—a brown lawn has become the new normal.

Take a look at the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s water conservation measures, and you’ll quickly realize that water use restrictions go well beyond watering lawns between dusk and dawn.

It’s likely that some places in the Interior will reach stage 4 watering restrictions this summer. You can do your part to help ensure we all have access to safe, clean water throughout the summer, and beyond.

We can all build a more resilient water system and supply with a few simple ideas:

1. Stay on top of water advisories
   Drought can affect water systems and water quality. Find out who your water supplier is and view current water advisories at Drinking Water for Everyone. 

2. Follow your region’s water conservation measures
   Even if your region is in stage 1 or 2 restrictions, you can still choose not to fill up wading pools or water fountains.

3. Take the Make Water Work challenge
   Sign up for Okanagan WaterWise Make Water Work Smarter challenge. Learn watering tips and take pledges, such as to water your plants, not pavement.

4. Are you on a well? How you can conserve water
   Private well owners and water suppliers using wells are urged to plan to conserve water in the event of drought, and have contingency plans in place. 
    
5. Plant a xeriscape garden
   Xeriscape–not “zero-scape” as it’s sometimes mistakenly called–is choosing drought tolerant plants for your garden. Learn how to create a lush, beautiful and colourful garden while minimizing water use.
    
6. Make your own rain barrel to collect water
   The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen put together this practical guide for building your own DIY rain barrel. Use rain barrels to collect water in your yard for landscaping.
    
7. Help prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels and other invasive species in our waters
   Zebra and quagga mussels are an invasive species that promote toxic algae blooms and clog up our drinking water systems. You can help protect waters and keep our lakes zebra and quagga mussel-free by knowing the risks and what you can do. 
    
8. Explore drinking water reports published by Interior Health and the Province
   For a “deep dive” into how drinking water is managed and protected in B.C., explore the Interior Health Drinking Water Report 2017 and Provincial Health Officer’s Drinking Water Report 2024.

Lake Country is a district that’s taking a proactive, collaborative approach to water management. Mayor Blair Ireland—who’s also the chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB)—is passionate about his community’s water security. The District understands that building water resiliency is not just a matter of designing systems that ensure a safe and plentiful water supply; it’s essential to engage residents.

Among council’s strategic priorities is to ensure sustainable water service delivery. Lake Country pulls its water from four lakes: Okanagan, Beaver, Kalamalka and Oyama. “One of the ways we’re building resiliency is adding treatment to Beaver Lake water, and providing system redundancy where Beaver and Okanagan Lake source can be used interchangeably during emergencies, for example,” says Mayor Ireland.

“This came into play during the fires this past summer. We had to shut down the treatment station for Okanagan Lake. We needed to keep fighting the fire and provide drinking water, so we were able to supply the Okanagan Lake source with Beaver Lake water,” he adds.

The District has also prioritized engagement and education in with the community. “You can never do enough education on water. We did a whiteboard exercise last year to teach people where their water comes from, and how it gets to your house,” says Mayor Ireland. “We’re also in an educational period with our agricultural community. We’re asking, what do we do if we don’t have enough water during periods of extended drought? The goal is to create a community plan in case we need to deal with unexpected circumstances or an emergency.”

Lake Country and Mayor Ireland also collaborate with the OBWB to promote wise use of water through campaigns like the Make Water Work Smarter challenge. The District encourages residents plant drought-tolerant gardens, also known as xeriscaping. “If you have a healthy, planted yard, a city-sized lot produces enough oxygen for a family of four for a year,” enthuses Mayor Ireland.

Of deep concern to the Mayor and the OBWB are invasive species like the zebra and quagga mussels. “These mussels would be detrimental to our lakes. It would cost millions and millions of dollars to remediate and manage, and would change our lives immensely,” Mayor Ireland says.

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