Watering less village property and using social media as a regulations reminder, has the Village of Fruitvale able to maintain its current Level 2 watering restrictions for now.
The lack of rain tested levels at Kelly Creek, the municipal source of surface water, and ground water from two production wells, one located at Maple Ave., the other on Columbia Gardens Road.
Tighter restrictions have been enforced since early June, and people have been very diligent about staying within the regulations, says Lila Cresswell, Fruitvale's chief administrative officer.
“We put the word out on Facebook and cut down on public lands irrigation,” she explained. “Our usage has declined to a manageable level so we have remained at Level 2.”
Intake continues to be monitored, she added. “If things change for the worse, we will move to Level 3.”
Fruitvale residents are allowed one sprinkler per house, turned on between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on designated days.
Underground sprinklers are permitted to run between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. in 20 minute intervals per zone.
The Beaver Valley Water Service is provided by the regional district and consists of most properties within Fruitvale and a portion of Area A.
Water users number about 2850 people, utilizing 1176 connections.
The system supplies domestic water to residents and businesses and acts as the sole source of water supply for fire protection from Fruitvale's Company 6.