City of Dawson Creek Declares State of Local Emergency Due to Ongoing Water Crisis

Dawson Creek, BC - The City of Dawson Creek has declared a state of local emergency (SOLE) in response to a severe and prolonged drought that has significantly reduced the community’s available water supply.

The state of emergency does not mean the City is out of water - it means the City is acting now to prevent that from happening.

The SOLE declaration allows the City to access additional resources and support from the Province of British Columbia as it works to secure a temporary supplemental water source and protect essential services.

“Despite years of conservation, careful management, and investment in water infrastructure, the ongoing drought has reached a point where our water supply can no longer meet community needs without emergency action,” said Mayor Darcy Dober. “This declaration ensures we can act quickly to protect residents, businesses, and essential services while we continue our long-term work toward a new, sustainable water supply.”

The Kiskatinaw River - the community’s only water source since 1942 - is at record-low levels after multiple consecutive years of drought. The City is at risk of relying solely on stored water in its reservoirs, which at current levels provide approximately 150 days of storage. With fluctuating river levels, the City will continue to manage pumping operations to ensure we are able to withdraw water from the river when it is available to maximize our storage. 

The City is maintaining Stage 3 Water Conservation Measures, which have been in place since September, while pursuing emergency pumping from the Peace River. Remaining at Stage 3 allows the City to focus on securing new water and protecting the local economy, as further restrictions (Stage 4) would have minimal effect on supply.

The declaration does not affect the City’s long-term Water Supply System Project – a plan to provide a permanent water line and well system connecting Dawson Creek to the Peace River.

“We’re taking short-term emergency steps to secure water for this winter,” said Mayor Dober, “and long-term infrastructure steps to make sure we never face this situation again.”

Residents are encouraged to continue conserving water wherever possible and to visit www.dawsoncreek.ca/emergency for frequent updates regarding the SOLE.

-30-

Media Contact:
Communications Department
communications@dawsoncreek.ca