Water consumption warning issued after ‘intentional’ damage’ to B.C. reservoir

WEST KELOWNA — A city in the British Columbia Interior is warning some residents not to consume tap water after police say there was “intentional damage” to a reservoir.

RCMP say city staff in West Kelowna in the Okanagan region received an alarm at the Tallus Ridge reservoir on Thursday and found that someone may have damaged the structure.

No further details of the damage have been released.

The city has issued an advisory for residents of homes in the Shannon Lake and Tallus Ridge areas not to use tap water for drinking or food preparation until further notice.

The advisory says the order was issued out of an abundance of caution, after “a potential unauthorized access event.”

Police are urging witnesses to contact investigators if they saw suspicious activity in the area of Big Sky Drive between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2026.

The Canadian Press