The Village of Clinton received a 4 Bloom rating and a special mention for Community Involvement in Water Conservation during the 2015 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Kamloops over the weekend. The Village of Clinton participated in the Up to 1,000 category along with Arnold’s Cove, Nfld., Kinistino, Sask. (Winner), and Valhalla Centre, Alta.
Over the summer, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – in regards to the following criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays.
Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Bonita Lundberg and Roger Younker wrote: “Clinton, the “Gateway to the Cariboo”, is a major link between Southern and Northern BC. With fewer than 12 inches of annual rainfall, conserving water is a priority.
Restrictions allow even numbered houses to water on even days of the month and odd house numbered properties on odd numbered days, from 6-9 in the morning and 7-10 in the evening only. ALFA Desert Planters, at the entrance signs, the park and the cairn use less water and take less time to water. Rain barrels are not very effective due to the low rainfall. Council and CiB distributed water conservation packages (low flow shower heads, bladders to place in toilets, etc.). In May a “Garden Hose” was cut, officially opening a new water treatment facility. No more spring boil orders... just the gravity fed flow of a pristine water supply.”
Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.