Grand Forks
Gazette
Your community voice since 1897
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012
❚ Cultural tourism
page 18 Columbia Basin Culture Tour on weekend.
VOL 115 NO. 32
Enter the sand men The Walega family from Athabasca and Grand Prairie, Alta. created Snake vs. Octopus at the annual sand castle building event at Christina Lake public beach on Aug. 5. The event, put on by the Christina Lake Recreation Commission, saw a range of different sand sculptures and there was no first, second or third place. All were winners and received JANIS THACK PHOTO prizes. More pictures on page 15.
❚ WATER CONSERVATION
City warns residents to follow sprinkling guidelines KARL YU Gazette Editor
Despite the late snow melt and heavy rainfall in the spring, the City of Grand Forks is warning residents to follow a bylaw when watering lawns. Regulations for residents connected to the city’s water system see people residing in even numbered addresses permitted to use water sprinklers on their lawns on even numbered days (the second, fourth days of the month and so on) while people with odd numbered addresses are permitted to use sprinklers on odd numbered days (the first, third days etc.). Manual sprinklers may be used between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Automatic, timed underground sprinklers can be used either between 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. or at the same times as
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manual sprinklers but it has to be at one time or the other, not both. Sprinkling is permitted on the 31st day of any month, with even numbered houses on the city system allowed to use manual sprinklers between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and those with odd numbered houses permitted to sprinkle between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Those with automatic timed underground sprinklers can water their lawns between 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Otherwise, even numbered addresses can water their lawns between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. while odd numbered addresses can do so between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – again, it has to be one time or the other, not both. Hal Wright, the City of Grand Forks’ manager of operations, said that it isn’t just a matter of water conservation, it’s a matter of fire protection as well. “In this season, when it’s time for sprinkling and the
extra watering that would go on with the heat, the (city’s) five pumps are in jeopardy of keeping up the levels that need to be maintained for fire flow,” Wright explained. “The fire authority would like us to maintain between 65 and 70 per cent of levels in the reservoir and we’re running a risk of not being able to fight a major event, much like the Grand Forks Hotel that burned down.” Dale Heriot, Grand Forks fire chief, said that there is a chance there might not be enough water if the March fire that destroyed the Grand Forks Hotel happened today. “I’m not sure where the water level is in the reservoir right at this time (but) there would certainly be a concern about running our reservoir low,” said Heriot. “I know at this time of year, we run almost all of our pumps all the time and if we don’t have conservation and we had that fire, we run out of water to fight the fire or we’re going to run the city out of water.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Grand Forks & District Fall Fair Friday, Sept. 7 • Saturday, Sept. 8 • Sunday, Sept. 9 2012 • GF Curling Rink & Dick Bartlett Park Fun for the Whole Family • Bavarian Gardens
Parade Vendors Artisans Agriculture Lots of kids games & prizes!
Mini Chuckwagon Races
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Live music Car Show Mini King & Queen Draw Chickwagon Races & Much Much More!
Second Class Registration # PM0034