Update - May 10, 2022 - 3:00 pm
On April 27, Greater Vernon Water (GVW) implemented temporary Stage 3 water restrictions in the North BX area, including the Foothills and some areas of Swan Lake along Highway 97, due to a malfunctioning valve in the water infrastructure.
We are happy to report the repairs were completed over the weekend and this morning. Stage 3 water restrictions are therefore RESCINDED. We remind residents that GVW operates with water restrictions year-round and encourage people to visit our website at www.rdno.ca/restrictions for tips on saving water and to confirm the days they are allowed to water.
We thank everyone who has taken steps to reduce their water use and apologize for the disruption.
Update - May 4, 2022 - 1:13 pm
On April 27, Greater Vernon Water (GVW) implemented temporary Stage 3 water restrictions in the North BX area, including the Foothills and some areas of Swan Lake along Highway 97, due to a malfunctioning valve in the water infrastructure. While GVW awaits the delivery of the equipment needed to make repairs, we require affected customers to reduce the amount of water they use to avoid further stress on the infrastructure.
Staff have closely monitored the water usage since imposing the restrictions, and are happy to report that the affected customers have acted quickly and significantly reduced their water usage. We thank everyone who has taken steps to avoid using water unnecessarily until we can make repairs.
Stage 3 water restrictions remain in place as GVW has not received the necessary equipment due to shipping delays. We remain confident that the repair will be completed within the window of May 11 to May 18 and will continue to provide weekly updates in the meantime.
Original Notice - April 27, 2022
As of April 27, 2022, Stage 3 Water Restrictions are in place for the Greater Vernon Water (GVW) customers within the North BX and Foothills area until a critical piece of water infrastructure is repaired. All customers located within the map below are required to reduce their water usage by 50% until further notice.
“An important valve in the water system is malfunctioning which impedes the ability for GVW to supply a high flow of water to this area. Delivery of the equipment required for the repairs is taking longer than usual, so as a proactive measure to ensure adequate distribution, water use must be reduced by 50%,” said John Lord, Manager of Water Distribution, RDNO.
GVW is determined to repair the infrastructure and lift the restrictions as quickly as possible. We currently estimate that repairs could be made in two (2) to three (3) weeks; however, the timeline is dependent on the arrival of the equipment.
Click here for a larger version of the map
Stage 3 Water Restrictions are enforceable by the Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 and include specific actions that customers in the specified area must follow:
Instructions for Domestic Water Users
- Pool filling and refilling are prohibited.
- Outdoor washing for the purpose of health and safety is permitted with the use of a hose with spring-loaded nozzle.
- Lawn and aesthetic garden irrigation is limited to one (1) day/week.
- The irrigation schedule for residential outdoor use is:
- Odd addresses - Saturday
- Even addresses - Sunday
Instructions for Agricultural Water Users
- Agricultural turn on will still continue. Agricultural customers are to minimize water use wherever possible and reduce water use by 50% once their service is turned on.
- Agricultural customers should be aware they could be turned off without notice if the water supply cannot be maintained.
For more information, please contact the RDNO Utilities Department at 250-550-3700.
Where can I find water updates?
GVW will provide weekly updates until the issue is resolved at www.rdno.ca/news (filter by Water Notices) and through the email subscription service you can sign up for at www.rdno.ca/subscribe.
Agricultural water customers can receive specialized text, email, or voicemail supply alerts by downloading the VOYENT ALERT! app and/or signing up at register.voyent-alert.com.