Don’t doubt the drought: Why water conservation matters

Kelowna summers mean nothing without Okanagan Lake. It’s the lifeblood of our picnics, boat trips, beach days and sunset swims. It’s what makes living here in the valley such a privilege – and that’s why protecting it so important.

We should all do our part to conserve water at all times of the year, but it becomes most important in the summer months. With winters becoming milder, there is often less snowpack than usual, leading to dry conditions and more stress on the water system.

“The summer months bring more watering needs – whether it’s sprinklers, car washing, watering gardens – all of this extra use puts tension on our system,” says Ed Hoppe, the City’s water quality and customer care manager. “It's time to start training our landscapes to naturally survive hot summers. We need to future-proof our landscapes to keep them resilient as temperatures rise so that we always have the on-demand, potable water our community relies on.”

The Okanagan has one of the highest rates of water use per person in Canada. Watering household lawns and gardens accounts for approximately 24 per cent of water used in the Okanagan.

To address water use in our community, the City developed its first Water Security Plan last year – a comprehensive strategy that outlines how we use, protect and share water today and in the future. Kelowna residents provided input during plan’s development and identified “not being wasteful”, “minimizing water use for lawns/landscaping” and “changing our behaviours to protect water” as some of their main themes of water responsibility.

There are lots of ways residents can conserve, and there is help available. The City’s Water Smart program aims to help residents understand their water use and improve their irrigation systems to ensure landscaping water is being used as efficiently as possible.

Free Water Smart offerings to Kelowna residents

Even small changes can make a big impact. Residents can take advantage of free Water Smart programs all summer long.

• Apply for a Water Smart rebate: available for drought-tolerant landscaping plants and for irrigation controllers, for residents in both single-family dwellings or strata complexes.
• Book a free irrigation assessment: available for all residents on the City Water Utility to help understand water use and improve irrigation systems. Book now by sending an email to [email protected].

Monitoring your water use is a breeze

City Water Utility customers with updated water meters can also download the EyeOnWater app to track water use, set up leak alerts and determine the impact of various water uses in the 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.

The app is only available to customers who have had their water meter recently replaced, with the addition of the meter transmitter. If you are a City Utility customer and haven’t had your meter replaced yet, schedule your installation today by calling 250-862-0409. Meter replacements are free, simple and only take 30-45 minutes to install. 

Let’s all do our part

“Water conservation is a team effort, and while we’re asking residents to do their part, conservation is also a top priority across our organization,” said Hoppe. “Our approach to water use across the City of Kelowna is layered, and all staff are encouraged to adopt Water Smart behaviours.”

This approach is not one single action - it includes things like remote irrigation control, flow monitoring, leak response, frequent inspections, system upgrades, turf-management practices, water-efficient design standards, and more. All these activities help contribute to a healthier water system for generations to come.

Explore more ways to be Water Smart this summer and all seasons ahead at kelowna.ca/watersmart. Find more information about current watering restrictions at kelowna.ca/waterrestrictions.