Watering Tips Test Your Knowledge! Water Restrictions

Oct. 1, 2026: OBWB warns Okanagan water scarcity challenges will persist through winter and get worse in 2027

The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is warning in its latest Drought Report that drought conditions remain severe across the Okanagan, with multiple indicators continuing to show sustained water stress. September rains improved streamflow and temperature conditions but did not materially replenish storage in lake levels or groundwater levels. Despite the rain, the basin remains vulnerable through the remainder of the irrigation season and will remain vulnerable well into the next year. Continued water conservation and close monitoring this winter are warranted.

Residents are encouraged to continue using water carefully and to follow the restrictions and conservation guidance of their local water supplier. Water restrictions should be viewed as a minimum, and residents who are able to reduce their water use further are encouraged to do so to help protect the region’s limited water supplies as the Okanagan heads into the fall and winter recharge season.

Figure 1. Cumulative precipitation from Jan. 1 to Oct. 1, 2026, at Vernon, Kelowna, and Penticton, shown alongside historical normal precipitation for each location. Data source: Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Remember: Your local water supplier knows best what’s needed to keep water flowing for homes, food, fish, and firefighting right where you are.

Figure 2. Weekly average streamflow conditions at monitored locations across the Okanagan, expressed relative to the historical range for each station. Data source: Water Survey of Canada and Okanagan Basin Water Board hydrometric monitoring stations, as of Oct. 1, 2026. This figure includes provisional data that is automatically transmitted and may be subject to change following review for quality assurance.

Okanagan Water Facts

There is less water available per person in the Okanagan than anywhere else in Canada.

The Okanagan has one of the highest rates of water use per person in Canada.

The second largest use of water in the Okanagan is used on our household lawns & gardens.

The Okanagan is on the front lines of climate change, shifting between flooding and drought, and extreme fire seasons.

As we work to find solutions to these climate events, Make Water Work is aimed at preparing Okanagan residents with resilient landscapes that can handle wet and dry years, and help ensure a sustainable water supply for our valley.

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