Kelowna, B.C. – As people start turning off their outdoor taps and irrigation systems get blown out, the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s Okanagan WaterWise program is winding up its Make Water Work campaign for another year. But not before announcing this year’s Grand Prize winner of a $6,000 WaterWise yard upgrade – Rob Abbott and Felicia Taylor of Osoyoos.
“You’re kidding! I was just thinking about how we were going to redo our yard. That’s incredible,” said Abbott when called with the news. “I’ve been wanting to change our yard so that it is closer to the natural environment and using less water, so this is perfect.”
Rob Abbott was among about 520 Okanagan residents who took the challenge and pledged to Make Water Work more effectively and efficiently in their yards this summer.
Make Water Work (MWW) is an initiative of the OBWB’s Okanagan WaterWise program developed and delivered in partnership with local governments and utilities throughout the Okanagan. Its purpose is to tackle the largest discretionary use of water in the Okanagan – 24 per cent – on outdoor residential landscaping. The program provides tips and tools to local residents to make water work best in their yards, but also encourages people to visit the Make Water Work website and pledge to conserve for a chance to be entered to win a WaterWise yard makeover.