Water

The Town of Oliver operates an extensive rural and municipal water system serving domestic water to approximately 2,393 residential customers, 174 industrial/commercial customers and irrigation water to 601 agriculture connections which equates to irrigating over 5,200 acres of farm land and 455 acres of non-farm land.

Water is supplied from a combination of underground and surface sources and varies with demand during different seasons.

The Water Utility is operated as a single, self-sufficient entity. Although the rural and municipal water systems do run somewhat independently, their costs and expenses are pooled in a single fund. Major past projects, mostly related to the irrigation supply system, have been jointly shared by all water users. The Water Fund has used a combination of reserves and grant money for upgrades and improvements to the water system. A majority of the spending started taking place from the first Twinning (PH 1) project which started in 2007.

Cross Connection Program

Drought Management Plan

Gallagher Lake Rock-Slide

On January 25, 2016, a significant rock-slide occurred at Gallagher Lake impacting the siphon and flume which provides irrigation water to the Town of Oliver, Electoral Area C (rural Oliver) and the Osoyoos Indian Band.  The Town of Oliver engaged engineers to assess the damage and works necessary to ensure operations in early April for the provision of water to the vast agricultural properties.

Irrigation

Source Water Protection Toolkit