WHEREAS thermal heat pump technology presents real and proven environmental and economic efficiencies for both commercial and domestic applications, in the heating and cooling of buildings, the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association opposes the use of open loop, groundwater-based heat exchangerecovery systems within jurisdictions of public potable groundwater purveyors; AND WHEREAS this opposition is based upon the serious risk of aquifer contamination and thereby potential public health risks within such jurisdictions by the intrusion of this particular type of thermal heat pump application: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities appeal to the Province to immediately institute effective legislation prohibiting the establishment and use of open loop thermal heat pump systems within the jurisdictions of public potable groundwater purveyors in British Columbia.
Ministry of Healthy Living Sport Thermal heat pump technology is emerging as a way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and electricity to provide energy needs to buildings. Given the potential draw on ground water resources, open loop heat exchanger systems can present potential risks in areas where aquifer drawdown is a concern for water supply. Under British Columbias Living Water Smart plan, the Province is committed to ensuring regulations are in place to regulate ground water use and ground water withdrawals in priority areas by 2012. Regulation of ground water withdrawal for open loop heat pump systems, along with other ground water resource uses, will be examined as part of this process. While these provisions are under development, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, along with our colleagues responsible for ground water regulation at the Ministry of the Environment will be monitoring information and research on the risk and concerns regarding emerging technologies such as these to determine if additional measures are needed to be taken at a provincial level to protect ground water resources.