Kelowna Water Restrictions 2026

The City of Kelowna Water Utility moved to Stage 1 effective Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in response to Okanagan Lake levels sitting at a record low for this time of year. Low snowpack and below-average winter and spring precipitation across the Okanagan Basin drove the early-season escalation; most Okanagan utilities historically enter restrictions in June or July, not May. Stage 1 applies to City of Kelowna Water Utility customers, which covers roughly half of Kelowna's population. Glenmore Ellison Improvement District and Rutland Waterworks (the other major Kelowna distributors) have indicated they are taking similar steps to maintain consistent supply across the city. Black Mountain Irrigation District and other water purveyors may set their own stage timing; check your water bill to confirm which utility serves your address. Non-potable agricultural irrigation systems are not subject to Stage 1 restrictions. The Stage 1 target is a 10 per cent reduction in both overall water use and peak demand. The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is coordinating regional drought response. West Kelowna (across the bridge) and Lake Country are at Stage 2 effective May 4, 2026; Peachland is at Stage 3 - each city is served by its own utility with its own 4-stage system, so schedules and hours differ from Kelowna's. The City of Kelowna has 4 drought restriction stages: Normal, Stage 1 (3 days/week with overnight automatic and split manual windows), Stage 2 (2 days/week), Stage 3 (1 day/week), and Stage 4 (no outdoor watering).