Drought Emergency

Dawson Creek has experienced persistent drought conditions since 2020, culminating in a Level 4 drought designation in January 2024 when the Kiskatinaw River froze and water intake operations were temporarily halted.

Conditions worsened again in the summer of 2025, returning the region to Level 4 drought status and prompting the City to declare a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) on October 14, 2025. This declaration was necessary to ensure access to provincial resources and support for supplemental water as the community faced escalating water challenges.

Emergency Solution

The short-term plan to address the lack of water due to drought in our community is to lay temporary overland hose from the Peace River to the Dawson Creek water system. This will enable the City to pump water from the Peace River if and when it is needed. This solution is supported by the Province of BC. 

Current Water Situation and Emergency Updates

The current water situation and emergency updates will be provided through the Emergency newsfeed. Subscribe to receive this news to your inbox.

Water Conservation

Dawson Creek is currently under Stage 3 Water Conservation measures. View more about Water Conservation on our Water and Environment page or read the Water Conservation Measures Bylaw.