WHEREAS many local governments draw surface water for their water systems, and such sources are vulnerable to degradation and pollution caused by a variety of industrial and recreational activities; AND WHEREAS watersheds are not recognized in legislation, leaving local governments without adequate tools to enact measures for the protection of watersheds; AND WHEREAS many local governments get their drinking water from sources on privately owned land; AND WHEREAS the provincial health authorities are increasing the requirements for the provision of clean water from local government water systems: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the provincial government to develop a funding program that facilitates local government acquisition of both the watershed and adjacent land for those local governments with water systems on privately owned land; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all activities in watersheds used for drinking water be subject to final approval and control by affected local governments and the Ministry of Environment MOE, and that MOE be legislatively required to ensure that the quality and quantity of water in watersheds meet provincial health requirements.
Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment MOE acknowledges the importance of source water protection in ensuring safe drinking water regardless of the source location. Lead responsibility for drinking water protection and the Drinking Water Protection Act DWPA is the Ministry of Health and regional Health Authorities. MOE has no statutory authority under DWPA. In practice, MOE and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations MFLNRO work with Health Authorities to ensure a multi-barrier approach to drinking water protection. For MOE, this includes responsibility for human health related water guidelines, standards and policies and monitoring of source waters. Source water protection is also a key consideration in the Groundwater Protection Regulation, Environmental Management Act and implementation of Living Water Smart. MFLNRO has a strong coordinating and decision making role within BCs watersheds.