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By Liam Verster
Water Shortage

RDNO wants operators to seek water transfers as some have service shut off

Jul 13, 2026 | 4:59 PM

Agricultural properties in the North Okanagan are facing a new water supply challenge.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) said some users in the area had reached their full seasonal water allocation and, as per Greater Vernon Water policy, their agricultural water service would be shut off.

The RDNO encouraged agriculture operators to come together and explore water allocation transfers. This would allow one property to transfer all or part of their remaining allocation to another, as long as they are both classified as agricultural lands.

“Farmers who exceed their allocation are not drawing from a separate reserve”, Bob Fleming, Chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, stated.

“The water available in the reservoir has already been allocated among agricultural users. When one user exceeds their allocation, it directly affects what remains available to others. Given the limited supply, it is absolutely essential that all users stay within their allocated volumes.”

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Additionally, the RDNO said it was working to arrange an urgent meeting with Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby, with the Ministry of Agriculture, and with the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources to come up with immediate and long-term solutions to address the water scarcity challenge. The goal would be to find a way to ensure all properties have access to the water they need, and that there would be enough left over for emergency purposes.

The RDNO said it had not confirmed a meeting with the provincial government as of time of publication.

by Liam Verster
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