Water Supply & Demand Project

Over the past several decades, the Okanagan has experienced dramatic population growth and expansion of irrigated areas, making it one of the highest water use areas in Canada — despite our dry climate. Our water supplies are close to fully allocated. Climate change is projected to bring warmer winters with less snow; hence, available water supplies will further dwindle as storage in the snow pack declines. We also expect warmer summers and longer growing seasons, increasing demand for irrigation water. How do we plan for these changes? How do we reduce the impact on future generations?

The Okanagan Basin Water Board, in partnership with the BC Ministry of Environment and with significant contributions from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the BC Ministry of Community Services, Environment Canada, Agriculture Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance, is working to establish better systems to track natural water flows, establish water-use patterns, and estimate how these will change in the future. The goal of the Okanagan Water Supply & Demand Project is to provide a best estimate of present and future water need and availability, taking into account population growth, climate change, land use change, preservation of the environment, and other factors.

The Project is being conducted in three phases: Phase 1 was completed in May 2005 and identified and catalogued relevant data sources, identified data gaps and developed a strategy for Phase 2.  Phase 2 is underway and will determine the current and future supply of and demand for water throughout the Okanagan Basin. Phase 3 will focus on turning results into policy, the use and maintenance of databases and models, and updating and improving the water supply & demand data and model.

Key findings for Phase 2 of the Okanagan Water Supply and Demand Study have been released
After three years of intense study, the Okanagan Water Supply and Demand Project indicates our water is at risk.  It will be up to all of us to protect our shared water for future generations.

Click here for News Release - PDF
Click here for Key Findings - PDF
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions - PDF
Click here for Overview of Phase 3 – the next phase of the Okanagan Water Supply and Demand Study - PDF