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.
The Town of Okotoks’ Water Smart Business Grant program is back for its second year and gives the business sector a chance to apply for thousands of dollars in grant money for implementing projects that conserve water. Businesses and institutions can apply to receive funding of up to $10,000 for each eligible project. “It’s a win-win situation — the Town is supporting local businesses through covering the investment costs, while businesses will ultimately see savings on their utility bills from the water they save in the long-term,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “This grant provides a substantial incentive and plenty of flexibility that makes it worthwhile applying for.”
Christine Colletta, one of the founders of Okanagan Crush Pad, says the winery has been working toward sustainable farming since it opened 11 years ago. She said it moved away from heavier bottles to alternative packaging, which uses less energy, and overall it has tried to reduce water usage. "What we're looking at is all aspects of our business and how we can be smart and lean and cut down the waste," she said.
The Municipality of Boissevain-Morton wants area residents to cut back on the amount of water they use each week. Due to high temperatures and low precipitation, water levels at Boissevain’s water source, the Boissevain Reservoir, are below normal. As a precautionary measure, the Municipality of Boissevain-Morton is asking residents and businesses to consider reducing all water usage. Specifically, they ask that residents reduce water usage for residential landscaping.
On the heels of the precipitation numbers for May, a local conservation authority is announcing a Low Water Condition. CFB Trenton is reporting that for the month of May, just 18.8 mm’s of precipitation came in, or less than one quarter the normal level. Noyes says the longer forecasted 18 month tracking hows 89% of normal water levels in the LTC system. Noyes says people who use municipal water do not have as much to worry about right now, however many are not.
