Watering Regulations and Conservation

• Is permitted at odd numbered addresses on odd calendar days.
• Is permitted at even numbered addresses on even calendar days.

• May only water between midnight and 6 a.m. on the days permitted.

• May only water between midnight to 11 a.m. or between 6 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.

• Is permitted at odd numbered addresses on Sundays and Wednesdays.
• Is permitted at even numbered addresses on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

• May only water between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. on the days permitted.

• May only water between midnight to 11 a.m. or between 6 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.

• Is permitted at odd numbered addresses on Sundays.
• Is permitted at even numbered addresses on Saturdays.

• May only water between midnight and 6 a.m. on the day permitted.

• May only water between midnight to 11 a.m. or between 6 p.m. to midnight on the day permitted.

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

• Sprinkling is never permitted between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., because it is wasteful due to increased evaporation during this period.
• Only one 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.

• Units that control their own irrigation systems may water on permitted dates based on their unit number.
• Common areas within a complex may water on the permitted days that correspond with the complex's street number.

• No outdoor watering is permitted for any purpose.

New lawns and landscaping

New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for a period of 14 consecutive days immediately following installation; use only what is needed, do not overwater.

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

Exemptions

Outdoor watering regulations do not apply to operations or activities that rely on the use of water for the common good:

• Agriculture (food and beverage production).
• Fire protection (public safety).
• Sports fields (player safety and preserving infrastructure investments).
• Cemeteries (dignity).
• Spray parks (water is recycled).
• Watermain flushing (drinking water quality/public health)
• 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 (economy, employment and public health).

The Operations General Manager or their designate may consider granting other exemptions, if required.

Please email us for more information.

• How often do I need to water a lawn?
  • Deeper watering, once or twice per week, in keeping with current watering regulations is sufficient. Lawns need about three centimeters, which is about the depth of a tuna can, per week. Frequent watering creates shallow roots and unhealthier grass.
  • Keep grass longer at six to eight centimetres to provide shade cover, which will help reduce weed growth and cause less evaporation allowing more water to seep into the soil.
  • Under Stage 4, outdoor watering is not permitted and lawns will need to be left to go dormant until outdoor watering regulations permit irrigation to resume.
• What about golf courses?
  • No golf courses use City of West Kelowna water systems; the course is either in a different jurisdiction or has their own water source that it manages.
• What about agricultural properties?

  • Agricultural operations 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.

• Where can I find the full regulations?
  • Please read Water Regulations Bylaw 0274.
• What is the City of West Kelowna doing to reduce use?
  • We must continue to wisely irrigate sports fields, which are exempt from residential outdoor watering regulations, because these important amenities serve the common good and proper maintenance ensures player safety and preserves and values the millions of dollars invested in building and maintaining turf.
  • Although the City of West Kelowna is exempt from the residential outdoor watering regulations staff are expanding conservation efforts and reviewing operations to find savings, which have included:
  • Reducing the number of planters and hanging baskets and replacing with banners, where possible and in budget.
  • Adjusting sprinklers in parks to better align with the regulations; if you notice a sprinkler is running when it should not be, please email our parks department so that crews can adjust timers, which can require resetting due to power outages, equipment malfunction, damage, leaks or other factors. 
  • Reducing the amount of landscaping in new capital projects and exploring xeriscape alternatives where possible. 
  • Revising our watermain flushing schedule or frequency, if possible, keeping in mind that flushing, although it occurs outdoors, is a best practice maintenance program to aid in the quality of drinking water indoors. 
  • Although watering regulations apply outdoors, we also extend our conservation efforts indoors, installing low and reduced-flow appliances and automatic faucets in our facilities, especially in all newer builds.

If you are concerned about overwatering or watering occurring at non-permitted times, please, call Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement at 778-797-8810 or send an email.

Bylaw Services Hours of Operation

• Officers on duty: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

• Bylaw office: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Report a city park irrigation reset

If you see a sprinkler running at a City of West Kelowna park between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., please, call 778-797-8849 or send an email so that staff can reset the timers.

Irrigation system maintenance and monitoring are routinely scheduled; however, things beyond the City's control, such as power outages, vandalism and equipment malfunction may cause timers to reset, damage sprinkler heads, etc. 

The consumption portion of your water bill is metered. By conserving, you can reduce your quarterly bill.

If you have questions about the usage on your bill, call Utility Billing at 778-797-8850 or log in or register online.

• 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.

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