Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia

Charting a New Course –A Vision for Integrated Water

Management in British Columbia

Kim A Stephens, M.Eng., P.Eng.November 25, 2003

Stewardship of a limited and vital resource, water, actively

supported by an aware and educated

citizenry

Water Sustainability Committee(WSC)

• Where We Have Come From • Who We Are• What Our Mission Is• Why We Are Doing It

• How We Will Accomplish It

At the 2002 BCWWA Conference, we foreshadowed the future….

“Looking ahead, there will be increased emphasis on an integrated approach to managing the Urban Water Cycle because of the ‘logical links’ between water conservation and….

Drought Management Drinking Water Treatment Rainwater Harvesting”

Looking Back to Move Forward

• 1992 –founded as Water Conservation Committee

• 1994 through 1997 –developed the British Columbia response to the ‘National Action Plan for Municipal Water Use Efficiency’

• 1997 –partnered with the Province to produce ‘A Water Conservation Strategy for British Columbia’

• 1998 through 2001 –partnered with the Province to promote implementation of ‘A Water Conservation Strategy for British Columbia’

• 2002 –restructured and renewed as the Water Sustainability Committee

In the 1990s the WSC primarily comprised government representatives from:

In 2002 the WSC metamorphosed into a broad-based informal coalition of ‘change agents’ who have diverse backgrounds and experience in:

– All levels: municipal, regional, provincial, federal– Water purveyors throughout southern British Columbia– Complete size range of municipalities: small to large

– government organizations – non-government organizations– the private sector– universities

By Drawing Our Members from a Wide Range of Organizations &

Disciplines…

…. the WSC works across the “boundaries” and beyond the “limits” or “constraints” of the mandates, knowledge and expertise

found in individual organizations

The WSC is Building a “Management Architecture”

through MOUs with…

• Smart Growth on the Ground• Real Estate Foundation of BC• Rivershed Society• EcoDesign Resources Society• Water Balance Model for BC• BC Hydro

The WSC Mission

“Facilitate more sustainable approaches to water resource management at all

levels -from the province to the household, and in all sectors”

To Achieve the Mission, We Will…

• Build on what we accomplished with the Water Conservation Strategy for BC

• Develop and implement a fully integrated Water Sustainability Action Plan for BC

GVRD Watersheds: Current Snowline at El 900m

The Drought and the Forest Fires of 2003 Have

Created a Teachable Moment for Change

Greater Vancouver Regional District Projected Temperature Change 1900-2100

Source: Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis

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Projected July temperature

Projected January temperature changes

Climate Change Scenario for the Greater Vancouver Region

Year 2080 Snowline at El 1700m

THINK OUTSIDE THE PIPE!The timing of population growth and climatic change suggest that rainfall source controls could be used to address looming stormwaterand water supply concerns

Quick Facts

• Only < 3% for drinking purposes!• Toilets = 25%• Outdoor use = up to 50%• Leakage losses = 10% to 30%

“Cities are all about choices – choices that become reality very quickly, with lasting consequences. Over the 21st century – the urban century – much will depend upon getting the choices right.”

- Mike HarcourtVice-Chair, citiesPLUS

citiesPLUS provides context for changing water management practices at the site level

The Water Sustainability Action Plan Will….

… provide an umbrella for demonstration projects that can inform Provincial policy through the shared responsibility model

Our Role is ‘Integrator’

LandscapeLandscape

PeoplePeople

BuildingsBuildings

WSCWSCIntegrated Integrated

Water ManagementWater Management

WatershedWatershed

Guiding Principles for Change:

1. Establish a vision with objectives2. Forge partnerships and recognize diversity3. Take a ‘macro’ view e.g. community design4. Drill down into the details5. Integrate, integrate, integrate6. Inspire and promote STEWARDSHIP

The WSC Products Will Represent a Continuum….

…. policy at one end, and pragmatic applications / tools at the other end

Community

MarketSector in Land Use

Technical Professions

Civil Service

Elected Officials

COMMUNICATION

“Who Decides What to Do, or Not to Do”

“Who Drives the Details”

A common vision provides context for changing water management practices

at the site level

WSC Goals

1. Manage natural environment and built environment as integrated components

2. Decide what we want our communities to look like in 50 years

WSC Goals

3. Focus on the benefits of an integrated approach to water resource management across the province

4. Educate and influence everyone regarding the benefits of restoring the hydrologic cycle

WSC Goals

5. Build support for water being at the heart of decision-making for human activities

6. Facilitate the move to a ‘closed loop’ approach to water resource management in BC

7. Promote an approach which recognizes that ‘what the cell is to the body, the site is to the region’

WSC Goals

8. Promote adaptive management :

a) Set performance objectivesb) Define decision-making criteriac) Define operational responsibilitiesd) Monitor effectiveness in achieving outcomese) Revise approaches to achieve outcomes

WSC Points of Reference

1. Focus efforts on influencing choices by individuals and organizations

2. Use the term “sustainability” as a lens for considering approaches that influence choices

WSC Points of Reference

3. Influences range from voluntary, to regulatory and financial incentives / disincentives

4. Build on existing and emerging government policies, legislation and programs

Short-Term Actions

• Develop the Framework for the Water Sustainability Action Plan for BC

• Expand the Partnership

• Promote Change

Our 1st Priority is to…

…. advance changes to the Plumbing Code

Where There is Energy to Make Things Happen…

• Water Conservation Report Card• Website as a Communication Tool• Model Servicing Bylaw & Green

Infrastructure Standards• Roundtable Forum on Water

Governance and Policy

In Conclusion…

“Over the 21st century –much will depend upon

getting the choices right”