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6^th Avenue will be closed at 630 6^th Avenue, for off-site civil works, from September 15^th to October 30^th.

Please use alternate routes and drive safely at all times.

The autumn edition of the 2025 Village of Keremeos newsletter is now available.  Hard copies are available at the Village Office, 702 4th Street, Keremeos.  

To view the newsletter online, click here.

Highlights of the Council meeting held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 can be viewed here.

The next Council meeting will take place on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 4:30pm, in Council Chambers, 702-4th Street, Keremeos.

To the Residents of Keremeos:

We have seen the flyer that was distributed by what appears to be the Keremeos Irrigation District (KID) (was not signed or on their letterhead so we cannot assume it came directly from them).  We would like to address the flyer to give better perspective of what the Village’s plans are with regard to water sustainability.

The KID has not approved any water connections for over a year.  This includes small water connections.  This has caused a stoppage of any new renovation or new builds, and has affected trades trying to provide construction services in the Village.  We cannot encourage any economic growth or development as the Village’s hands are tied with regard to water supply.  The KID states they are not approving new water connections due to water capacity issues, however they have failed to provide any documentation or proof that there is a shortage.  The Village has applied for 50% funding for a new well to mitigate the problem but after asking several times whether this would fix the capacity problem and not occur again in a year or two, KID provided no guarantees.  This funding has not been approved as yet and if not, we could remain in this same predicament of no water connections for the duration without proof of a capacity issue.

The Village was also recently advised that most of the water lines within the Village boundaries are at end of life which means they will need to be replaced.  KID does not have sufficient reserves to fix these pipes and has not provided any information as to how they plan to raise the funds to do so.  If these pipes fail it could be catastrophic.  After several requests, KID still has not provided the Village with their Capital Plan on how they plan on addressing this problem.  The numbers provided in the flyer are interesting as the VOK has not received any calculations from engineers as to what the total cost will be or how long it will take to replace all the lines.  If KID has this information, the VOK would welcome a copy.

The Village’s Housing Needs Study shows that we must construct 107 new residential units in the next 5 years.  One of those years is almost over and we will not meet this provincially mandated target if water connections are not approved.

In the best interest of the citizens of the Village of Keremeos, Council advertised for resident volunteers to form a Water Committee to review options.  Two Village residents were joined by two councillors who reviewed several studies done over the past 20 years with regard to the water supply and governance issues.  This committee worked hard reviewing all the documents and options for moving forward and made a recommendation to Council.  They recommended the Village look at funding to take over the water system within the Village Boundaries in order to gain control and ensure a continuous water supply to the residents and to ensure that the necessary water line improvements are made.  Council accepted this recommendation and that resolution was made at a closed meeting on July 7, 2025 so that it could remain confidential until KID could be informed.  It was made public at the July 21, 2025 regular open meeting.  The Water Advisory Committee which consists of KID member and VOK members, met on July 10, 2025 at which time the VOK advised KID of the resolution.  At no time did the Mayor make this decision on his own.  He did not sit on the Water Committee and did not provide input to them.  He has always acted in the best interest of the Village residents.

At this point in time there is no final decision mad as the VOK is still pulling together all the facts and figures before holding a public meeting to give ALL the RIGHT information to the public.  We cannot make a decision until we know if funding will be available.  The Province is being consulted as to what support they can provide, if any, going forward.  What we do know is that the VOK residents deserve to have stability in their water supply and we are doing everything in our power to ensure this is done.  This may be continuing with the KID or taking over the system within the VOK boundaries but there will be public consultation along the way – again, there is just not enough data to provide to the public at this time.

The issue of chlorination seems to be the biggest concern noted.  Chlorination ma be required in the current system at some time as well – this is purely in the hands of Interior Health and the water testing and bacterial counts.  If the VOK takes on its own system, the water will be coming from a similar source as KID wells and therefore we may not have to chlorinate.  This all depends on the water sampling results and Interior Health requirements.

It is regretful that KID felt it necessary to provide incorrect information to alarm the public before the VOK could get all the information together to bring it forward itself.  There was never any intent to keep this from the public as can bee seen by releasing the July 7 resolution to the public and to openly pass a resolution at the August 18 meeting to proceed forward with a funding application for water supply.

Further information will be provided when it is available.

Mayor and Council

The Village Office will be closed for the Labour Day holiday on Monday, September 1, 2025. 

The office will be open again on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 8:00am.

Enjoy the long weekend and stay safe!

The next meeting of Council will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 4:30pm, in Council Chambers, 702 4th Street, Keremeos.  To review a copy of the agenda package, click here.

Highlights of the Regular Open Council meeting held on August 18, 2025 can be reviewed here.

The next meeting of council will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 4:30pm in the Council Chambers, 702 4th Street, Keremeos.

Effective immediately as of August 15, 2025, due to drought conditions and as requested by the province of B.C., the Keremeos Irrigation District is now in STAGE 2 WATERING RESTRICTIONS.

In addition to STAGE 1, there is NO WATERING between the hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Please see complete Water Conservation Measures here.

Thank you for your co-operation!

On behalf of the Keremeos Irrigation District

The next meeting of Council will take place on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 4:30pm, in Council Chambers, 702 4th Street, Keremeos.  To review a copy of the agenda package, click here.

The Village Office will be closed on Monday, August 4, 2025 for the BC Day holiday.  The office will be open again on Tuesday, August 5th at 8:00am.    

Have a safe and happy BC Day!