The Town of Osoyoos has completed an important milestone in its long-term drinking water planning.
Osoyoos currently relies on a network of groundwater wells, but several challenges have been identified, including:
• Water quality concerns such as manganese, ammonia, and organic material
• Aging infrastructure and wells requiring upgrades
• Limited capacity to meet future growth, with water demand expected to increase from approximately 19.7 million litres per day to 25 million litres per day by 2050
• Reliability risks, including limited backup power and complex operations
• Detection of emerging contaminants, such as PFAS
After extensive studies, the Town has been evaluating Osoyoos Lake as a potential long-term drinking water source. A pilot treatment plant program has now concluded, and the results were presented to Council at the June 9, 2026, Committee of the Whole meeting.
The pilot program confirmed that Osoyoos Lake is a reliable long-term water source and that proven treatment technologies can be used to produce safe, high-quality drinking water.
With the pilot program complete, the next phase of the project will focus on finalizing the treatment design approach, developing preliminary designs, refining cost estimates, advancing funding and financial planning, and continuing work on water licensing and intake infrastructure.
Proposed Location for the Future Plant
Several locations were studied. The leading option is a site in the industrial area near Strawberry Creek Road, which offers:
- Suitable zoning and space for expansion
- Fewer land-use constraints
- Good integration with Town operations with proximity to Operations Center.
