Groundwater Use Determination Under the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation

WHEREAS in 2011, the Ministry of Environment issued a technical guidance document that changed how a sites groundwater use was determined in the context of contaminated sites remediation; AND WHEREAS this document requires all sites within BC to begin with the assumption that groundwater will need to be remediated to the drinking water standard which is the most stringent standard, regardless of historical or current groundwater use which is adding delays and costs to the remediation process; AND WHEREAS there are areas in the province where groundwater is not used for drinking due to a number of factors including the natural characteristics of the groundwater and the existence of a reliable supply of potable water through municipal distribution system: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to initiate discussions with interested municipalities to exempt areas where groundwater is not used, and will not be used in the future, as a drinking water source in the context of the Contaminated Sites Regulation.