INFORMATION RELEASE

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, is pleased to announce the commencement of the installation phase of the Universal Metering Pilot Program. Faulder, Olalla, and Willowbrook are the three communities approved for this fully funded, automated water meter installation and research project aimed at identifying the benefits to small communities across British Columbia.

The phased installation will begin in Faulder on October 27, 2025, in Olalla on November 19, 2025, and in Willowbrook on January 10, 2026.

Community information meetings
Each community will have an information meeting before installation. The meetings will begin with a short presentation, followed by an open-house format. Residents are invited to drop in throughout the scheduled time to view information boards and ask questions.

1. Faulder: The Faulder information meeting took place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Summerland Library and was well attended. The RDOS thanks all residents who participated and shared valuable feedback.
2. Olalla: Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Similkameen Recreation Centre, 311-9^th Street, Keremeos. The information meeting will also include an update on the Boil Water Notice for the Olalla Water System.
3. Willowbrook: Monday, December 8, 2025, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Willowbrook Fire Hall, 3395 Willowbrook Road, Oliver

The information meetings will be hosted by RDOS senior staff, the project management team, and the electoral area director. Residents will learn about the Universal Metering Pilot Program rollout, installation process, and the benefits of universal water metering, including:

• Protecting the water supply: Metering helps the RDOS manage water resources responsibly and support long-term sustainability.
• Leak detection: Meters identify leaks and losses in the system, reducing waste and guiding repairs/upgrades.
• Empowering residents: With access to usage data, residents can better manage water use and potentially lower their consumption.
• Supporting water restrictions: Metering provides accurate data to measure the effectiveness of restrictions during times of limited supply.
• Reducing costs: Better tracking and management of water use help lower operational costs across the system.

For further information, please visit the Universal Metering project web page at rdosregionalconnections.ca or contact RDOS Communications.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 

Irwin Chahal, Electoral Area “C” Director
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 

Riley Gettens, Electoral Area “F” Director
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Tim Roberts, Electoral Area “G” Director
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contact:
RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737