Lake Country Water Restrictions 2026

The District of Lake Country moved to Stage 2 effective Monday, May 4, 2026 for all residential users connected to the District water system. The escalation responds to Okanagan Basin snowpack at roughly 65 per cent of average (among the lowest recorded since 2005), combined with Okanagan Lake levels at a record low for this time of year and below-average winter/spring precipitation. Without significant spring precipitation, the local upland reservoirs (Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake) are not expected to fill. Lake Country draws from three source systems: Beaver Lake, Okanagan Lake intake, and Oyama Lake. The Stage 2 restriction applies across all users connected to the District water system, regardless of municipal boundaries. Lawn watering is limited to 2 days per week during approved morning or evening hours to reduce evaporation losses. Trees, shrubs, and gardens may be watered outside the lawn schedule using efficient irrigation methods. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses are encouraged for all non-lawn landscaping. Agricultural users are being asked to reduce consumption by 10 per cent, with the maximum annual application reduced to 27 inches (2,700 m³) per acre. The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is coordinating regional drought response. Kelowna (just south on Okanagan Lake) entered Stage 1 on May 12, 2026; West Kelowna is also at Stage 2 effective May 4; Peachland is at Stage 3. Each city is served by its own utility, so schedules and hours differ across the cluster. Lake Country (~15K population) sits between Vernon and Kelowna on Okanagan Lake. If conditions worsen, Stage 3 (1 day per week) is the next escalation.