WHEREAS the provincial government, after completion of a review, enacted the current Drinking Water Protection Act and regulations, which adopts some of the recommendations in the Drinking Water Review Panel - Final Report and moves responsibility and liability for safe drinking water to the purveyor; AND WHEREAS the Interior Health Authority has implemented increased standards for treatment of potable water intended to reduce the level of risk associated with waterborne disease; AND WHEREAS the recommendations in the Drinking Water Review Panel - Final Report on funding the infrastructure required to meet the new standards, was not adopted by the Province and the increased costs associated with meeting these standards are substantial and not financially viable for many communities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia, in consultation with the Union of BC Municipalities, immediately establish a mechanism to review and implement the funding recommendations contained in the Drinking Water Review Panel Final Report to ensure that the infrastructure requirements needed to meet the increased standards for treatment of potable water are attainable.
Ministry of Health With the growth that the Province of British Columbia Province is experiencing, government needs to ensure water systems are sustainable. It is essential that the true cost of water for many water users is realized The Action Plan for Safe Drinking Water in BC encourages all water systems public or private, small or large to become self-sufficient in terms of funding. There are no proposals to impose any overall cost-sharing formula or any broad drinking water surcharge over water users, consumers, developers and resource industries at this time. This government does recognize funding is essential to the protection of drinking water in the Province. Several provincial ministries, including the Ministries of Health and Community Services, are addressing the funding recommendations in the Drinking Water Review Panel Final Report. Government has dedicated funds for operational activities under the Drinking Water Protection Act and related acts, and we continue to dedicate the resources toward drinking water assessments, as well as to refine the existing strategy for funding infrastructure improvements, working with both local and federal authorities. The Ministry of Community Services also has numerous infrastructure grants accessible to water suppliers.