Wet spring and summer means few water fines
It’s just another sign of the lousy weather this spring and summer.
The city has handed out just 14 fines to property owners for not following seasonal water restrictions since they came into effect on May 1.
That number is down compared to this point last late spring and early summer, which were also cool and wet.
In 2010, the city issued 14 fines in May alone. In 2009, the city issued 26 fines in May.
Brian Cassell, the city’s bylaw-services supervisor, said it’s been a quiet year for water-restriction enforcement, noting he hasn’t yet even turned on his own sprinkler at home.
It only takes a quick look at the sky to figure out why nothing is happening on the ground.
Weather statistics for May show the month was both colder and wetter than normal in Kamloops — and June hasn’t seen a significant change.
But, water restrictions remain in effect, with transgressors subject to fines of $100.
Though the city handed out warnings in the first few weeks after the restrictions came into effect, Cassell warned the grace period is over.
“That’s it for warnings,” he said. “Everybody’s getting tickets now.”
The majority of fines are based on calls from neighbours or bylaw-officer observations.
The city’s water restrictions, which are in place from May 1 to Aug. 31, allow even-numbered residential and commercial properties to sprinkle on even-numbered days.
Odd-numbered properties can water on odd-numbered days.
Manual sprinklers can be used from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. or from 6 p.m. to midnight. Automatic irrigation can be used from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. or from 6 p.m. to midnight or midnight to 6 a.m.
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