Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
A community consulting firm is asking, ‘Water you doing, Spall?’ The Township of Spallumcheen is looking to get the word out about the critical importance of water conservation. According to Spall reports, the Okanagan has one of the highest rates of water use per person in Canada, meaning there is less water available per person in the Okanagan than anywhere else in the country.
“Upgrading our water metering system will help our community conserve water, manage our infrastructure responsibly, and ensure that residents are being billed fairly for their water use,” Mayor Christine Fraser said in a press release. “Throughout the upgrade process, the township will work with property owners to make sure the meter installation is completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
The Township of Spallumcheen has received a downpour of government funds to help with its water in one district. Spallumcheen will receive more than $3.3 million to build a new well and reservoir for the Larkin Water System, and improve the system through the installation of monitoring equipment. The federal government will contribute $1,850,000 to the project, Victoria is chipping in $1,480,000 and a total of $370,000 will come from the township.
High temperatures putting a stress on the water system have prompted restrictions in Spallumcheen. Hand watering only is in effect, as of 1 p.m. July 28, 2022, for all residents of the Highland Park, Silver Star, Stardel, Round Prairie, Hankey, Pleasant Valley, Lansdowne and Larkin local area services. The stage two restrictions means no sprinlers or irrigation systems can be used to water lawns, gardens, trees or shrubs. Washing of driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and exterior building surfaces is also not permitted.
