“We Need Water Reduction Immediately” Vernon Mayor Issues Urgent Drought Warning

Stage 3 Water Restrictions Now Active as Vernon Enters Year Four of Drought

June 8 2026 - Vernon’s Mayor Victor Cumming delivered a sobering message Monday before the regular council meeting began, declaring the city’s water crisis has reached a critical new level and urging residents to slash consumption right now.

Lawn watering and filling private pools are already banned

Speaking at the start of the June 8, 2026 City Council meeting, the Mayor Cumming warned that Kalamalka Lake and the Aberdeen Plateau reservoirs, Greater Vernon Water’s two main sources, are at historic lows after four straight years of drought.

“The situation with our water supply has changed dramatically over the last few weeks,” he said. “Our response needs to be as urgent and as focused as we’re being updated."

With far-below-average snowpack, early melt, and precipitation at record lows (Penticton recorded just 21% of normal moisture in the first five months), Stage 3 restrictions are now in full effect.

All customers, residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural, face an immediate community-wide target of up to 50% reduction in water use.

Lawn watering and filling private pools are already banned.

Further tightening coming

Greater Vernon Water is recommending even stricter measures. The current bylaw still technically allows lawn watering one day per week under Stage 3, but that is expected to change.

Proposed amendments would completely prohibit lawn watering and private pool filling. The changes go before the Regional District of North Okanagan board on June 17, with enforcement likely beginning the following day.

The Mayor stressed that restrictions are based on individual water systems, not geography.

Areas served by wells or smaller lakes may not face the same pressure.

“Water service in Vernon is not provided by the City of Vernon,” Mayor Cumming reminded residents.

The system is operated by Greater Vernon Water, a service of the Regional District of North Okanagan.

“We Need Water Reduction Immediately” Vernon Mayor Issues Urgent Drought Warning