Water Canada – May 18, 2018
Okanagan Valley’s mayors gathered yesterday at the UnH20 Gardens to talk water conservation. Following a difficult year of flood, record-breaking temperatures, and as talk turns to the possibility of another drought this year, there was a strong commitment to participate in the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s annual WaterWise program.
“It can be hard to focus on being WaterWise and water conservation when there’s flooding, but it’s a priority for all of our communities to use water wisely,” said Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper. “Look at last year. Flooding was quickly followed by fire and drought. Water is a valuable resource and we can’t take it for granted. We have to respect it.”
Pieper was joined by Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater, and Peachland Mayor Cindy Fortin, as well as Deputy Mayor Blair Ireland of Lake Country, Deputy Mayor for Kelowna and OBWB Chair Tracy Gray, Deputy Mayor Janet Peake of Summerland and Deputy Mayor Mike Campol of Osoyoos. The mayors pledged to Make Water Work this summer more effectively and efficiently and challenged their residents to go to the Make Water Work website and pledge to do the same.