The Merritt area is once again dealing with extreme drought conditions on the Coldwater River.

The provincial government said the Coldwater River watershed is at Drought Level 4 (Extremely Dry) due to low water levels, and they’re urging people to conserve water.

“Areas with low flows are approaching a critical environmental flow threshold for ecosystems and fish,” a statement said.

“Residential, agricultural and industrial water users in areas affected by drought should observe all water conservation bylaws, watering restrictions and advice from their local government, irrigation district or water utility.”

With drought conditions lingering, the city of Merritt announced further restrictions on water use three weeks ago when the Coldwater was at Drought Level 3 (Very Dry), with conditions expected to worsen.

Conditions on the North and South Thompson rivers are normal as are conditions on the Nicola River. Most other river basins are either at Drought Level 1 (Normal) or 2 (Dry), with level-three conditions also present on Eastern Vancouver Island.

Water Conservation Tips from the Province:
At home:
– Limit outdoor watering.
– Do not water during the heat of the day or when it is windy.
– Consider planting drought-tolerant vegetation.
– Take shorter showers.
– Do not leave taps running.
– Install water-efficient showerheads, taps and toilets.

On the farm:
– Implement an irrigation scheduling program using real-time weather data.
– Schedule irrigation to match crop needs and soil storage capacity.
– Improve water system efficiencies and check for leaks.
– Focus on high-value crops and livestock.

Industry:
– Reduce non-essential water use.
– Recycle water used in industrial operations.
– Use water-efficient methods and equipment.