John Pomeray, chair of Canadian Research and Water Resources said, “I think Cape Town is a terrible event for that city and for Africa, but it can be a wake-up call for the rest of the developed world that we can have severe water shortages … We need to manage our water much more carefully and be ready for these droughts when they hit.”
Together we could acknowledge:
— For years wetlands have been drained in exchange for development.
— Development on a flood plain has been observed to be an easy decision that leads to emergency measures and costly increases of insurance premiums.
— Residents in valley bottoms look to the local hills for their water supply and reservoirs.
— B.C. and Alberta’s glaciers are receding at an alarming rate.
— Water storage potentially provides water during dry summer days.
— In the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Area D there are only three sand and/or gravel aquifers.
— Natural water storage in wetlands and in sand and/or gravel aquifers.
— Our water comes from precipitation and snow melt.
— In wet year cycles store water and/or recharge aquifers for drier cycle years.
— Water storage capacity restoration through development, up from the long side of natural low lying water catchments.
Wetlands or low-lying water catchments could be viewed as the location of an international mosquito conference, however, where a surplus can be exploited something else will thrive, birds arrive. The fishes and plankton jive with local residents alike. Natural cycles are important allies.
In 2017 we had an above median snow pack and a wet spring with a dry summer. 2018 has an above median snow pack. Does this equate to the adage “same old, same old?” What about 2019? We can all write to our MLA/MPs to advocate for improved development planning and increased natural water storage capacity.
Sandy Brown
Twin Lakes