I am replying as an old farmer in this area to Mr. Sutch and also the complainer about agricultural water use.
First of all, your water in Vernon is special, from a special source, treated especially so you can drink it and cook with it.
Please note your laundry and showers aren’t all done at night are they? So you water your garden at night.
Farmers pay for water rights on designated rivers and lakes up in those range hills. Most are paying fees for their cattle to range up there too.
One of you mentioned to grow wheat. If we did, we would all be fat and dried up.
Most of our agriculture is dairy, beef and orchards (no smokey, heat-producing factories). Milk and meat and fruit keep us healthy and if you are a vegetarian we grow that too.
Daily evaporation keeps Vernon’s air healthier and it comes back in humidity and dew.
It keeps our North Okanagan a great place to live and our Vernon a flourishing city.
A rain barrel at the corner of your eavestroughs to save rain water is good for your special plants and they love it.
I have only one thing to say to you who are not happy with Vernon’s water rates, Penticton is a lovely place too. Why aren’t you living there?
M.E. Massey
Rural Lumby
