New drought measures on the way

have been calling for water conservation,” Ma said.

A drought response plan is being crafted and is expected to be revealed by the City of Kamloops next week.

The North and South Thompson water basins are currently classified as Level 4 drought severity — meaning adverse impacts to socioeconomics and/or ecosystems are likely — on a scale ranging in severity from zero to five.

According to the province, the general response is water conservation with restrictions in place. At Level 5, adverse impacts are considered almost certain and regulatory action likely, with the possibility of emergency responses being put in place.

The city this week is in the middle of developing an action plan in response to drought conditions, with a press conference announcing potential new restrictions and water conservation efforts tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, July 25, city utility services manager Greg Wightman told KTW

“Definitely restrictions for anybody using potable water and conservation efforts for anyone using potable water,” Wightman said, noting the majority of golf courses rely on their own

PAGE A12 private irrigation systems and do not use the city’s potable water.

How likely an increase to drought Level 5 is for Kamloops is hard to say, according to Wightman, who said the province would be making that decision.

“At this stage, we’re relying on the province’s drought classification levels until next week,” he said.

What would change in terms of restrictions between Level 4 and Level 5 is part of the response plan the city is in the middle of drafting, Wightman said.

At Level 5, he said, the city will be increasing tis water conservation efforts, but the province has yet to determine what it will require water purveyors to do.

In a press conference on Tuesday (July 18), Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma lauded Kamloops for its drought-response planning.

“I’m very grateful to the local leaders who

To date this year, the City of Vancouver has levied $71,000 in fines for watering restriction infractions.

Wightman said Kamloops has issued no fines to residents for breaking local watering restrictions.

“We’re in the education phase right now, just encouraging people to comply with the existing sprinkler restrictions,” he said.

In Kamloops, sprinkling or irrigating is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 1 to Aug. 31. Outside of those hours, even-numbered addresses can sprinkle or irrigate on evennumbered days and odd-numbered addresses can do likewise on odd-numbered days.

Wightman said he had no information on how many warnings have been issued to residents, but said the city will likely start tracking that data as it enters more severe drought levels.

Asked if the city would be directing community service (bylaws) officers to keep a closer eye on residents to ensure compliance with those regulations, Wightman said that is part of its drought response plan. Details of how those officers will be directed to respond will be announced next week.

On June 12, Kamloops Mayor Reid HamerJackson (right) filed a lawsuit against Coun. Katie Neustaeter (left), claiming Neustaeter defamed him when she read out a statement on behalf of all council at a March 17 press conference, claiming he had violated personal and professional boundaries with councillors.