Kelowna’s Tent City receives water delivery from nearby business

Residents of Kelowna’s Tent City have been facing a dire situation for the past eight months – they have been without running water. The tap at the city-maintained encampment was turned off in October due to alleged vandalism, and there is no timeline for when it will be reconnected.

In response to this critical issue, a local business, Packrat Water Hauling, has stepped in to provide much-needed assistance. James Sutton, the manager of the water service, was shocked to learn about the lack of water at Tent City and immediately took action. On Thursday, May 2, he arrived at the encampment with a truckload of water, delivering approximately 1200L to the residents.

The impact of Sutton’s delivery was profound. Residents flocked to the truck, eager to fill their containers with clean water. One senior woman expressed her excitement at being able to finally clean her clothes, a task she had been unable to do for months due to the water shortage.

Kelly Blair, a long-time Kelowna resident, was moved by the sight of people living without access to basic necessities like water. He emphasized the importance of providing vulnerable individuals with regular and reliable access to drinkable water, regardless of their circumstances.

Sutton plans to continue supporting the residents of Tent City by providing water deliveries until a permanent solution is found to restore running water at the encampment. His actions have brought much-needed relief to a community that has been struggling for far too long.