Saturday, August 11th, 2012

Months have flown by, but I am back again with a few musings.

The Okanagan/Similkameen has turned into an extremely popular spot with its mild climate and availability to all sports and activities for young and old.

This has created demand for property and accommodation and in turn will call for a great amount of that which will be the new liquid gold WATER!

The demand that has been created for good clean water is threatening to cause an interruption in the development plans of many individuals and companies.  When one looks at this part of Canada it would appear that there would never be a shortage of water with the abundance of lakes, rivers and snow-capped mountains to feed them that precious commodity.  It should be a simple matter for those learned people from our universities to compute something that might give some hope.

A few facts....

The Okanagan and the Similkameen valleys are classified as semi desert country, which means 9 to 11 inches of rainfall per year.  The economy has been based on agriculture for the past 130 years, but now has become a great place to live and retire.  The problem that arises with the increased population is the demand for WATER.

Upstream dams are being used, but can be limited.  At present wells are a source of water, but it is found that so many are in service that they are drawing down the aquifers.  These are the underground lakes which can dry up if they are not replenished by snow or rain.  These underground sources of water are accessed by drilling anywhere from 50 to 1,000 feet or more, depending on where the residence or property is located.

These and other factors are creating problems for all potential residents.  My solution to this dilemma would be the use of cisterns or storage tanks to be filled by tanker service when water is plentiful.

At the present time you will see toilets advertised with a 4 or 6 litre flush of fresh water.  Big deal!!!  There should be no fresh water used in a toilet flush.  It should be waste water from the shower, bath, hand wash, dish washer or any other utility that used fresh water.

Sounds impossible, but not in this day and age.  Just get with it, you brainy types.  My generation did their part in trying to make a world that would be better for all to live at least a little closer to their dreams.  Maybe some of you can further that idea a little - in many ways at far less cost than it was for us and the armed forces who still give their lives for our way of life.