Water Management

There is only one water in the Okanagan – snow, rain, lakes, streams, groundwater, water for fish or for drinking, wastewater, stormwater, and irrigation are all connected by the hydrologic cycle and by our shared use. The Okanagan has the one of the lowest per capita water supplies in Canada. Wide fluctuations in precipitation swing us between extremes of drought and flood. In this fragile environment, we need healthy ecosystems to protect the health of Okanagan communities and water sources. Within the next few decades, both water quality and water supply will be impacted by a rapidly growing population and the effects of global climate change. Meeting these challenges takes basin-wide vision and action – our environment, quality of life and regional economy depend upon it.

The Water Management Program connects the dots between the people, the information, the policies and the plans we need to protect water in the Okanagan.

Every Okanagan community manages their local water supplies separately – delivering drinking water, approving land use, draining storm water, and trying to control pollution. However, basin-wide water management addresses problems that cross community boundaries by providing information to decision makers and working toward agreements that protect the resource for everyone.

The basin-wide Water Management Program was initiated in 2006 – heralding a return to the OBWB’s original mandate and updating its governance structure. Three new seats were added to the Board – for the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Chair of the Water Supply Association of BC and the Chair of the Water Stewardship Council.

The Water Management Program consists of four main components:

1. Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grant program
2. Water science and research
3. Okanagan Water Stewardship Council
4. Communication and outreach