Residents in the Spences Bridge area are able to resume outdoor watering, with some limits, as mandatory water restrictions that were put in place last week have been lifted.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and Cook’s Ferry Indian Band (CFIB) say the Spences Bridge Community Water System is back to normal operations as repairs have been completed.

It means the roughly 135 people who use the Spences Bridge Community Water System are able to water their lawns twice a week, starting Thursday, July 25.

Those in odd-numbered addresses can do so on Monday and Thursday between 5 am and 9 am or between 6 pm and 10 pm, while those in even-numbered addresses can do so on Tuesday and Friday during the same times.

The mandatory restrictions were put in place as water use was exceeding the current production capacity. Both the TNRD and the CFIB said last week that the restrictions were not related to Shetland Creek wildfire, which has led to numerous evacuation orders and alerts.

“Well intake capacity has increased; however, enhanced watering restrictions are needed because well recharge rate and pumping capacity are likely unable to meet anticipated maximum daily demands at this time,” the TNRD said, in a statement, noting that people are allowed to water by hand using a spring-loaded nozzle at any time.

The enhanced watering restrictions are expected to be in place for the rest of the current irrigating season.

“We thank residents for their cooperation, and we appreciate conservation efforts made by the community to date,”  TNRD Utility Services Manager Tyrone McCabe said.

“After the Water Conservation Notice was issued on July 16, we saw an instant improvement in our reservoir levels. This cooperation by residents made sure that water remained available for essential uses until our repair work was finished.”

For information on conserving water in the TNRD, go here.