Lessons from Las Vegas about water
There are lessons to be learned about water conservation from drier parts of the world, so the Okanagan is turning to Las Vegas for ideas about coping with water shortages here.
The Irrigation Industry Association of B.C., in collaboration with the Okanagan Basin Water Board and Okanagan Waterwise, has invited Doug Bennett of the Southern Nevada Water Authority to Kelowna Dec. 5 to talk about leading edge water conservation trends and technologies.
Everyone involved in managing water, including those in civic government, water-related businesses and others, are invited to attend the day-long conference at the Delta Grand, called Water Conservation in the Okanagan: What can we learn from Las Vegas?
“Special attention will be given to how Okanagan water stakeholders-including regional and municipal governments, water-related businesses, and other users, can the prevent the water challenges that have plagued other drought-prone areas,” said Corinne Jackson, communications director for the OBWB.
Some of the topics to be discussed by panels of experienced industry experts include Water Modelling and Planning Strategies; Conservation Regulation and Enforcement Tools; Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards; and Water Budgeting and Rates.
The idea is to prevent the water challenges that have plagued other drought-prone areas.
Speakers will include Anna Warwick Sears, executive-director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, Ted van der Gulik, ministry of agriculture, Jahn Janmaat, UBCO, and Don Dobson, a hydrologist with Urban Systems Ltd.
The workshop will follow the 33rd annual convention and trade show of the IIABC at the Delta Grand.