Watering Regulations

Outdoor Water Usage Regulations apply to all properties within the City of West Kelowna (except exempt users). Stage 1 watering regulations are continuously in effect throughout the year, except when any of Stages 2, 3, or 4 are in effect.

• Sprinkling is not permitted between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. during any day, due to increased evaporation during these times.

Only one outlet (outside tap) may be used at one time for sprinkling.

Using an open pipe or hose for irrigating purposes is prohibited.

Hand watering of all landscape plant materials and vegetable plantings, excluding lawns, is permitted, except in Stage 4.

Properties that have both unit numbers and street numbers will adhere to the following guidelines:

• Units that have control of their own irrigation systems may water based on their unit number.
• Common areas within a complex may water on the days that correspond with the street number of the complex.
• Large properties and large strata properties (more than one acre in size) may split their common area watering between odd and even days due to the large area they cover.

Sprinkling is only permitted as follows:

• Even numbered addresses on even calendar days
• Odd numbered addresses on odd calendar days

Automatically controlled sprinkling systems:

• Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. on the days permitted.

Manually controlled sprinklers:

• Properties equipped with manually controlled sprinkling systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight to 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.

Please read the full public service announcement about Stage 2 outdoor water regulations.

Sprinkling is only permitted as follows:

• Even numbered addresses on Saturdays and Tuesdays
• Odd numbered addresses on Sundays and Wednesdays

Automatically controlled sprinkling systems:

• Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. on the days permitted.

Manually controlled sprinklers:

• Properties equipped with only manually controlled sprinkling watering systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight to 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.

Sprinkling is only permitted as follows:

• Even numbered addresses on Saturdays
• Odd numbered addresses on Sundays

Automatically controlled sprinkling systems:

• Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between midnight and 6:00 a.m. on the day permitted.

Manually controlled sprinklers:

• Properties equipped with only manually controlled sprinkling systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight to 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the day permitted.

Also prohibited are:

• Filling a swimming pool, hot tub, garden pond, or decorative fountain at any time
• Washing a vehicle, driveway and/or sidewalk.

• No watering is permitted outdoors for any purpose.

To report sprinkling/watering violations (e.g. watering outside permitted times), please call Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement at 778-797-8810.

• Summer hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days per week from May long weekend through September.
• Regular business hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, for the remainder of the year.

New lawns and landscaping

New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for a period of 14 consecutive days immediately following installation.

• However, sprinkling is not permitted between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day, or during a Stage 4 water restriction.

Exempt users

The Outdoor Water Usage Regulations shall not apply to persons who own, operate, or carry on the following operations or activities that rely on the use of water:

• Agricultural
• Fire use protection
• Sports fields
• Cemeteries
• Spray parks
• Washing exterior building surfaces including windows, prior to the application of a product such as paint, preservative, stucco or preparation of a surface prior to paving or repainting of bricks or if required by law, to comply with health and safety regulations.

Other exemptions may apply at the discretion of the Director of Engineering and Operations. Please contact us for more information.

The consumption portion of your water bill is metered. By conserving, you can reduce your quarterly bill. If you have questions about the usage amount on your bill, call Utility Billing at 778-797-8850 or log in or register online.

Indoor

• Don't leave water running while brushing teeth, doing dishes, shaving, etc.
• Let water cool after cooking and then use in plants.
• Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than running the water until cold.
• Install low flow appliances and shower heads.
• Replace worn washers/seals.
• Fix leaky faucets, which can waste up to 90 litres of water per day.
• Repair leaking toilets.
• Check your water meter occasionally to ensure it's not detecting any leaks.

Outdoor

• For tips on how to efficiently water your lawn and garden, visit makewaterwork.ca

Most lawn experts recommend a deeper watering over just one or two days per week for a total of about three centimeters, which is about the depth of a tuna can, rather than frequent watering, which creates shallow roots and unhealthier grass.

No golf courses use City of West Kelowna water systems; they are in a different jurisdiction or have their own water source and licences.

Agricultural properties are exempt from residential outdoor watering regulations because they serve the common good, including growing food close to home, providing seeds and plants for household gardens, and raising trees for climate change mitigation. Many supply local, regional, and provincial retailers or support the City’s Urban Re-Leaf program to expand the urban canopy. They sustain jobs and the economy. We are grateful for operators who use more sustainable practices such as drip irrigation, while others supplement water use with their own wells or alternative private sources.

Please refer to Water Regulations Bylaw 0274.

• Please, call Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement at 778-797-8810.
• Officers on duty: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
• Bylaw office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Sports fields are exempt to maintain turf to meet player safety standards and to protect considerable infrastructure investment in these amenities. City irrigation systems should not be running between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you see a sprinkler running at a City park or sports field in the heat of the day, please call us at 778-797-8849 so staff can reset timers. Power outages, vandalism and equipment malfunction may cause timers to reset.

New lawns and landscaping may be watered for up to 14 days after installation. However, sprinkling is never permitted between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day.

Under Stage 4 Regulations, should they become necessary, watering of new lawns, landscaping or grass seed would not be permitted.

Outdoor watering regulations do not apply to operations or activities that use water for the common good. This includes agriculture for food and beverage production, fire protection for public safety, public utilities for watermain flushing or drinking water quality services, sports fields for player safety and preserving infrastructure investments, the City’s cemetery for dignity, the Kids Care Spray Park where water is recycled, and businesses that are washing windows and surfaces or complying with health and safety cleanups etc. for economic and employment and public safety reasons. However, the City will modify its use to conserve and may work with other operators to encourage water use practices.

 Kids Care Spray Park uses recycled water. It also serves as a cooling site during extreme heat which supports public safety. 

Filling or re-filling pools and fountains are not permitted during Stage 3 or Stage 4 based on bylaws. If possible, it is recommended to cover your pool to prevent evaporation.