West Kelowna is growing, our summers are becoming hotter and drier, and drought is no longer an occasional concern.

In 2026, the City moved to Stage 3 outdoor watering restrictions because of persistent drought, heat, low snowpack and high demand. More than 90 million litres of water a day were flowing through the Rose Valley and Powers Creek treatment plants.

Water security is not something we can afford to take for granted.

If elected to West Kelowna City Council, I will make long-term water security a priority, with five practical objectives.

1. Protect and expand our water infrastructure

West Kelowna has made significant investments, including the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant, which was completed in 2023 and now serves approximately 7,300 connections. The Powers Creek system serves another 4,700 connections.

But treatment plants are only part of the equation. We also need sufficient reservoirs, transmission capacity, pump stations and water mains to reliably move water where it is needed.

I will support proactive infrastructure planning and maintenance, rather than waiting for failures or shortages before acting.

2. Update our Water Utility Master Plan

West Kelowna needs a clear picture of how much water we will require over the next 10, 20 and 30 years. This includes future treatment capacity, watershed yield, asset management and capital planning.

I will advocate for an update of the Water Utility Master Plan, making it a practical roadmap with clear priorities, timelines and costs

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3. Strengthen drought and emergency preparedness

Our water system must be resilient not only during normal summers, but during drought, wildfire and other emergencies. West Kelowna's upland reservoirs provide critical storage, and the Powers Creek watershed contains six reservoir lakes with more than 10,500 megalitres of stored water.

I will support continued investment in watershed protection, reservoir storage and, water conservation, with particular attention to maintaining adequate supplies for drinking water and firefighting.

4. Make conservation easier and more effective

Conservation cannot simply mean telling residents to use less water when drought arrives. We should encourage water-efficient landscaping, smart irrigation and leak detection throughout the year.

The City already has conservation policies and watering regulations. I will support reviewing them regularly and using water-use data to determine where conservation efforts can have the greatest impact.

Every litre we save during normal times gives us more flexibility when conditions become difficult.

5. Make growth pay its fair share

Responsible growth helps West Kelowna remain strong and meet the future needs of our community, but growth must be matched with infrastructure.

As development proceeds, Council should have confidence that adequate water capacity exists and that the infrastructure required to support that growth is properly identified and funded.

I will support transparent infrastructure planning, appropriate development cost charges and fair water rates so residents and developers alike carrying a balanced share of the costs associated with growth.

The city is already planning a Water Rate Study beginning as early as late 2026. I will advocate for a rate structure that is financially sustainable while remaining fair and understandable to residents.

Water security is about more than turning on the tap. It is about protecting our homes, businesses, farms, parks and firefighters—and ensuring West Kelowna can continue to grow responsibly.

As your City Councillor, I will ask the difficult questions:

Do we have enough water?
Do we have enough storage?
Can our infrastructure handle future growth?
Are we prepared for another prolonged drought or wildfire?
And are we spending today's tax dollars wisely to protect tomorrow's water supply?

Our water security is too important to leave to chance.