After months without running water, two new taps have been installed at Kelowna's city-maintained outdoor sheltering site.

The site, which is called Tent City by the approximately 200 people who reside there, has been without running water since October 2023, when the old tap was turned off for the winter. 

Now, just in time for a heat warning that was issued for the Southern Interior on July 5, the new spigots became operational and residents living along the Rail Trail are able to access fresh drinking water.

Tent City residents said they thankful they can cool down and stay hydrated as temperatures begin to rise. 

In the spring of 2024, city staff could not restore the water at Tent City after the winter, stating there was subterranean damage to the tap, potentially caused by vandalism. 

Previously the spigot at the outdoor sheltering site needed to be turned off each fall to prevent the pipes from freezing, said City of Kelowna communications manager Tom Wilson. He said in addition to shutting off the taps during the cold months, repeat vandalism to the infrastructure also stopped the water from flowing as repairs had to be made. 

Now, Tent City has two functioning spigots that Wilson said are winterized and resistant to vandalism.

The new spigots are located near where Kelowna's Gospel Mission delivers meals at the outdoor sheltering site. 

On July 5, people lined up for dinner, they were able to use the running water to wash their hands before eating. 
Residents told Capital News they had been unable to wash their hands before a meal for months. They also said they were happy to be able to clean up and drink as much water as they wanted without having to ration.

Due to mental and physical disabilities and illnesses that impact many of the people living at Tent City, some people would go days without drinking when water, said Paula Chartrand, a resident of the encampment. 

All people rationed their water and some had resorted to drinking unfiltered water from the nearby Mill Creek. 

While outreach organizations including Kelowna's Gospel Mission deliver water and meals to Tent City nearly every day, high demand and budget constraints often prevent the non-profits from providing bottled water to each person sheltering at the encampment.

An organization in downtown Kelowna called Metro Community provides free daily access to showers, water and laundry, but many of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness are unable to make the 1 km journey from the Rail Trail to the outreach service.

Physical disabilities that impede movement, cognitive impairments or mental illness impact nearly every single Tent City resident said Chartrand.

She explained that while she is physically able to walk, she also struggles with mental illness and finds it challenging to make her way to Metro some mornings. 

On top of the compounding personal restraints, there is also the risk of theft to those who might leave the encampment to access outreach services. Those residing along the Rail Trail go out of their way to never leave their belongings unattended, which makes being away from the area for an extended period, difficult. 

Many of those sheltering at Tent City say they are not welcome at the shelters in Kelowna, or have had bad past experiences with people in positions of authority and therefore chose to reside at the encampment. To keep staff and shelter residents safe, strict rules and curfews are enforced and some people have a difficult time complying with the requirements of some facilities.