New fines and more restrictions for West Kelowna water use

WEST KELOWNA — West Kelowna is now in stage two watering restrictions meaning residents are only allowed to water twice a week.

• Even numbered addresses water on Tuesdays and Saturdays
• Odd numbered addresses water on Sundays and Wednesday

“Hand watering of all landscape plant materials and vegetable plantings, excluding lawns, is permitted, either with a watering can or a control nozzle on a hose,”  says West Kelowna communications supervisor, Kirsten Jones. “Using an open pipe or hose for irrigating purposes is not allowed.”

Along with the restrictions, city council has approved new fines for water abusers.

The fines start at $25 for first time offenders and run all the way up to $500 a day for anyone continuing to ignore the regulations. Residents won’t be slapped with a fine right away. Bylaw officers will first give warnings and educate offenders on the new watering limits.

The new fines were approved at Tuesday’s council meeting. Before they were in place,  the city’s only option was to cut off water completely to homes, which as an extreme measure, rarely happened.

“It certainly helps when there is an enforcement arm that is a penalty,” says Jones. “Cutting off someone’s water is the last thing we want to do.”