Water Act review — have your say
March 3, 2010 by CVNews
Filed under BC news, Environment, Government
Maude Barlow speaks on the importance of water for all living things, how it is part of our common heritage and should not be commoditized, and how resolving competition for water may hold the key to peace.
This video trailer was released January 29 on YouTube by producer Liz Marshall. It’s timely release is now followed by a BC Government review of the Water Act (see government blog posting below). The BC Government is encouraging all British Columbians to participate in the process of modernizing this statute. You can register your comments and learn more by visiting the government website Living Water Smart Blog (blog.gov.bc.ca/livingwatersmart).
BC’s water law framework – it’s complex.
from BC Government, Living Water Smart Blog.
BC’s water law framework is as complex as the resource itself. Water falls from the sky and then makes its way into the natural watercourses that flow downstream to the Pacific or the Arctic Oceans. Because of the transitional nature of water and the many land based activities that can affect it, the laws that apply may vary depending on where you are or what you are doing. Federal, provincial and local government laws all play a role in managing water resources.
The Water Act is the primary water law in BC requiring licences for all water uses, except for limited domestic and prospecting uses, and the use of ground water which is not presently regulated. Water supplies for future needs may be protected by water reserves and Water Management Plans may be developed and implemented to address conflicts.
Water that flows across BC’s borders may be subject to international laws and treaties or interprovincial agreements. In national and provincial parks water is a protected natural resource and its use is restricted or prohibited. Water use or construction of instream works may also be restricted to ensure protection of fish habitat and navigation as required by federal laws. The Water Protection Act prohibits the bulk removal of water from BC except in containers of 20 litres or less. Water bottling is subject to federal health regulation.
Drinking water protection in BC is a public health issue. The Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, along with Regional Health Authorities, protect drinking water quality through the Drinking Water Protection Act.
BC’s water law framework includes the regulation of land-based activities to protect water resources. Forest and range activities must be carried out in a way that avoids impacts on water quality, particularly in community watersheds and adjacent to fish bearing streams. Mining, mineral exploration and oil and gas development activities are also regulated to avoid adverse effects on water sources.
The development of private land may be subject to zoning and other local government bylaws. Official community plans and regional growth strategies can also take water needs into account and ensure steps are taken to avoid detrimental effects on water resources.
Protection of public safety from some of the hazards associated with water is an important part of the framework. The owners of dams are responsible for safe operation and maintenance of their dams and must regularly carry out inspections. Regional governments use by-laws to restrict development of lands that may flood. There are large areas in the province where development has already occurred on land that is subject to a flood risk. A system of dikes provides protection from floods for much of that land and provincial laws ensure the dikes are properly maintained.
While there is not much we can do about the complexity of the hydrologic cycle, we would like to hear your ideas on ways to make the legal framework simpler to understand and easier to administer.
March 2, 2010
Living Water Smart Blog
http://blog.gov.bc.ca/livingwatersmart/
I have my concerns about this water act because it will remove the very last riparian rights of the little people and allow business to interfere with your own source of water. You can be forced to chlorinate your well and so on.
I hate to say it but everytime I hear that the government is going to protect us, they are actually arming themselves as we become victims. This protection of water is the same.
They (the government) want to call us stakeholders, that means we have a stake in a business deal. That’s not how I see my water.
Water is the source of life, not a business deal.
Amen to that, Eloise
In this present climate of “harmonization”, “globalization” and “corporatization”, we have to look at every government announcement with skepticism. The record of governments at all levels gives us plenty of reasons to be extremely cautious about anything that sounds good and honest and noble at first glance.
It is a sad fact that we have to mistrust the motives of those we elect to lead us, but backroom deals are a given these days and the boys in the backroom usually include large multinationals with nefarious motives.
There are numerous organizations which have taken up the fight to save our water and I would suggest that many people working together make a louder noise than a lone voice here and there. Do some research, find a group that you feel has integrity and become an active participant. Govenments listen to those kind of organizations – they laugh at the ones that have proven themselves to be a bunch of loose cannons – and there are a lot of those.
Lynn, do you perhaps mean they laugh at the ones they cannot BUY and CONTROL? — kind of like the way Iran is demonized because the bankers cannot seem to get control of their central bank.