Okanagan drought reaches highest level as water supplies hit record lows

The Okanagan’s drought situation is worsening, with the province moving the region to its highest drought classification as lakes, streams and groundwater supplies continue to fall to record lows.

The Okanagan has been placed at Drought Level 5, the highest level possible, while the Water Scarcity Index has been rated high across all five Okanagan regions. Officials with the Okanagan Basin Water Board say the region is facing severe water scarcity challenges, with several weeks of hot and dry weather still ahead.

Both Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake started the summer with significantly less water than normal and have now fallen below the historical range recorded between 1991 and 2025. Groundwater levels are also showing signs of extreme stress, with many monitoring wells across the region reporting some of their lowest levels on record for this time of year.

Officials say groundwater is a critical part of the Okanagan’s water supply, supporting homes, agriculture, streams and ecosystems. Surface water and groundwater systems are closely connected, meaning declining groundwater levels can also impact creeks and lakes. The Okanagan Basin Water Board is urging residents to continue conserving water through the remainder of the summer, saying demand remains highest during the hottest months of the year.

“Every drop counts,” officials say, as communities balance the need for drinking water, agriculture, firefighting, ecosystems and recreation.

Water restrictions remain in place across the region, with communities operating under different stages of conservation measures.

Kelowna, Lake Country, Westbank First Nation, Penticton and the Regional District of Central Okanagan are among communities currently under Stage 2 restrictions, while West Kelowna, Vernon, Peachland, Summerland and several South Okanagan communities have stronger restrictions in place.