Update Sep 20 – 

As expected, the City of Merritt has eased water restrictions effective today.

From today until September 30, residents will be allowed to water their lawns up to three days per week, based on their addresses.

Odd numbered houses are permitted to water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while even numbered homes permitted to water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“I am thrilled to see rain,” said Mayor Linda Brown, “Though there was plenty of water in our aquifers, it was extremely concerning to see such limited flow in the Coldwater River. Whether it be flood or drought, water management will continue to be a priority for this Council.”

Barring a significant change in the weather pattern, all watering restrictions will be lifted on September 30.

Meanwhile, the BC River Forecast Centre has downgraded the drought level on Coldwater River from a level four to a level two.is now listed at level two.

It has been under extreme level four drought levels for much of the summer.

A level two designation means conditions are still dry officials do still recommend voluntary water conservation.

The Coldwater River is now listed at level two.
The BC River Forecast Centre has downgraded the area that has been under extreme level four drought levels for much of the summer. pic.twitter.com/lxRts5VFvG

— RadioNLNews (@RadioNLNews) September 20, 2019

Original – The city of Merritt expects to ease watering restrictions tomorrow, four weeks after it was put in place due to drought like conditions on the Coldwater River basin.

Director of Corporate Services Sean Smith says conditions on the Coldwater River have improved significantly due to recent rainfall.

“We very much hope that our watering restrictions helped as well but Mother Nature is ultimately the one who solves these problems,” he said. “It’s true with fires, it’s true with floods, and it’s true with drought. We can do everything we can to hold it off and do our part. Ultimately, I think it was the rain that made the difference.”

He notes when restrictions are eased tomorrow, things will return to Stage 1 water restrictions, as per city policy for this time of year.

“We are going to be returning back to our baseline watering restrictions, so no extras over and above what we would always have for this time of year,” Smith added. “So watering three days a week. I’m not going to go over what the policy says we do.”

All water restrictions, he noted, will be lifted at the end of this month.

And when asked, Smith says that most Merrittonians were supportive of the water restrictions that were put in place to try and prevent the drought on the Coldwater River from getting too severe.