Water Smart
Water Smart
Explore programs, tips and services to save you water and money.
Water Smart empowers residents to make positive water conservation changes. We provide residents with important information to help them make good water use choices in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Resident programs
View programs, initiatives, and community partnerships that help residents use water more efficiently.
Make Water Work
Take the pledge to Make Water Work, an initiative of the Okanagan Basin Water Board.
Water conservation
Explore resources, tips and best practices for efficient indoor and outdoor water use.
Explore programs for residents
Make your water work for you with programs for homeowners.
Rebates are available to City Water Utility customers living in single-family dwellings and strata complexes, for irrigation controllers or Water Smart landscaping plants.
Applications will be accepted between January 1 through October 31, 2026, or until available rebate funds are exhausted.
Free Water Smart irrigation assessments are available to City Water Utility customers.
Book an appointment and a Water Smart representative will come to your home to help you understand your water use and where you might be able to improve your system to save you money and water.
Book a free assessment by sending an email to [email protected].
City Water Utility customers with updated water meters can download the EyeOnWater app to track water use, set up leak alerts, and determine the impact of various water uses in your home. You’ll never be surprised by a high water bill again since you’ll get notified of any continuous water use (like a running toilet or irrigation issue) before it shows up on your bill.
Download the app now on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Haven’t had your meter replaced yet? Be sure to schedule your installation by calling 250-862-0409. Meter replacements are free are only take 30-45 minutes to install.
The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) program is a WaterSense certification program that is the standard for many water efficient cities. The program offers QWEL training for contractors that want to learn to create water-efficient, sustainable landscapes.
For more information on becoming a QWEL professional and upcoming training courses, please email [email protected].
Looking to hire a QWEL certified contractor? The following local contractors are certified:
- Creative Roots
- DNA Designs
- Gabel Landscaping
- Gardens by Ali
- Great Outdoor Designs
- Hagen Landscapes
- Optimum Irrigation
- Gabel Landscaping
- Greenstone Solutions
- Growing Inspired Ecological Landscape Design
- Natalie Martin Design
- Nightingale Landscapes
- Okanagan Yard Works
- Regenerative Landscape Solutions
- Zerra Landscaping
Note: Participating contractors are recognized solely on successful completion of the Kelowna Water Smart QWEL training program. The City of Kelowna does not specifically endorse any contractor, and inclusion on the Kelowna contractor list is not an endorsement of the performance of any contractor. We encourage consumers to use available resources to research potential contractors.
Contact us to discuss hiring a contractor or to learn more.
We’re a Make Water Work partner
Make Water Work is an initiative of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), delivered in partnership with local governments and utilities throughout the Okanagan.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is a joint community venture to help encourage Okanagan Valley residents to be Water Smart. As our valley can be a dry one, it’s important to protect and conserve the water we have.
Water conservation
There are two ways to reduce indoor water use: change your behaviour and change your appliances that use water.
Changing your behaviour is easy: turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and make sure there are no water leaks. Changing all your appliances to save water is a good idea, but it may not be practical to change them all at once. However, as your appliances age and need replacing, consider the low-flow alternatives including:
- Low-flow toilets: All homes in Kelowna constructed after 1994 were required to have low flow toilets. If your home was constructed prior to 1994, you may have an old water-wasting toilet.
- Front-loading washing machines : These use a fraction of the water compared to the old top-loaders. They’re also gentler on your clothes and require less soap.
- Low-flow showerheads : Purchase a low-flow showerhead with an adjustable spray.
- Dishwashers : Most new dishwashers have settings that will allow you to adjust for the size of the load. If you only have a few dishes, wash them by hand.
- Recirculating shower: Innovative products are available that allow you to re-use circulated water through this fixture to reduce energy consumption and lower your water bills.
- Grey water recycling : Grey water recycling systems filter particles and impurities from your shower/bath and laundry water, and reuse it to flush your toilets. It’s like using normal water without having to pay again. Requirements for installation include a plumbing permit and a backflow preventer.
Simple changes to how you care for your landscape can significantly reduce outdoor water use while keeping your lawn and garden healthy.
FIND IRRIGATION SYSTEM TIPS
FIND LANDSCAPING TIPS
- Know your watering restrictions: Year-round watering restrictions are in place for all Kelowna residents.
- Collect & use rainwater where possible: Rain barrels are available at your local garden centres. Use them to collect rainwater that can be used for container plants, flower beds and food gardens.
- Let your lawn grow long: grass should grow to a height of 2.5 inches. Taller grass shades new growth and reduces evaporation. You can also leave the grass clippings on the lawn.
- Sharpen your mower blades: keep the blades of your mower sharp. Dull blades tear the grass leaving it open to disease and heat stress.
- Over-seed your lawn: introduce a mix of drought-tolerant fescue grasses to your existing turf. Over-seeding should be done while fertilizing, top-dressing or aerating.
- Hire a qualified contractor: when hiring a landscape or irrigation contractor, ensure they have adequate insurance (including Workers’ Compensation Board coverage & liability insurance) as well as a City of Kelowna business license. Ask for references and information about their training and qualifications, including potential QWEL certification.
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