Farmers may be able to tap into new technology as a way of using water more efficiently.
Greater Vernon’s water utility is one of three agencies participating in the Okanagan irrigation management program.
“We’re ready to start with a few farmers in June,” said Arnold Badke, the North Okanagan Regional District’s engineering general manager, of implementation.
The objective of the computerized program is to develop a model that calculates irrigation needs.
As part of the process, water sources have been considered as have the needs of specific crops.
Climate change has also been considered.
“It allows the model to look into the future as to how much water we will need under different conditions,” said Ted van der Gulik, with the Ministry of Agriculture’s sustainable agriculture management branch.
Farmers can log into the data base and look at their water meter readings and how much water allocation they have left for their property.
“It helps guide how much water you should use,” said van der Gulik.
Information can also be sent out during droughts.
“All of these things are there to help people do a better job,” said van der Gulik of irrigating.
Besides Greater Vernon, the other participants in the program are Summerland and the Glenmore Irrigation District in Kelowna.
Involvement in the initiative has cost Greater Vernon $10,000 this year.
Data monitoring stations are located in the BX, Coldstream and the Bella Vista area.
Of the total water use in the entire Okanagan Valley, 65 per cent of it goes to agriculture while another 20 per cent goes towards landscape irrigation, such as golf courses, parks and yards.
“If we’re going to use water better in the Okanagan, it’s about managing irrigation,” said van der Gulik.
“In Greater Vernon, agriculture may be higher than 65 per cent because you have a lot of agricultural use here.”
There is broad support at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee for the program but there are some concerns about the dependence on computers to access information.
“Not all users will be computer literate,” said director Ted Osborn.
There are already plans for training seminars to familiarize people with the program.
“It’s easy to use once you know it but the initial step could be overwhelming,” said director Tom Ouchi.
