With ongoing dry conditions and a continued lack of precipitation in the headwaters, District of Summerland council has elevated the community to Drought Level 4, aligning with the broader region’s overall drought status.

The change is not expected to affect residents in the short term, as the 2025 irrigation season has ended and most outdoor watering has already stopped. However, if conditions fail to improve over the winter, additional voluntary or regulatory water-use measures may be required for the 2026 season.

“Drought conditions are not uncommon in the Okanagan, and even with our dams, Summerland is not immune to the same environmental factors that affect water quantity in the region,” Mayor Doug Holmes said in a news release. “We are acting now to ensure we start 2026 in the best

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