WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia began mapping aquifers in 1994, but has not mapped any since March 2007 and vast areas of the province remain unmapped; AND WHEREAS the UN World Water Report 3 2009, on page 226, identified that water resource management should be based on a quantitative understanding of the state of the resource; AND WHEREAS aquifers are presently under increased pressure due to the demands of multiple users, especially the oil and gas industry: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province to continue to map and classify aquifers throughout the province to provide baseline information and to ensure that future decisions regarding groundwater management are made with quantitative data.
Ministry of Natural Resource Operations Since 1994, 916 developed aquifers have been mapped and classified by the Ministry. Mapping of developed aquifers can only be done where there are data e.g., water well records. That is why a vast amount of the area of the province unsettled, mountainous and remote areas has still not been mapped. Over the years, mapping has been completed in part with partnership funding from other senior and local governments Environment Canada, Agriculture Canada, Regional District of Comox-Strathcona, Capital Regional District, especially in areas where there are pressures on the groundwater resource. The Ministry is currently involved with Geoscience BC to continue to map and classify developed aquifers in the Montney area of the Peace River region where there is significant oil and gas activity. The Province supports aquifer classification mapping because it provides a prioritized inventory of developed aquifers for rational management and protection of this provinces groundwater resource. The Ministry is also planning to renew its Memorandum of Understanding with the Geological Survey of Canada to carry out regional groundwater assessments in the Nanaimo Basin east coast of Vancouver Island between Mill Bay and Courtney. Aquifer vulnerability mapping has recently been completed for Vancouver Island, in partnership with Vancouver Island University. 1 A developed aquifer is one that is being utilized for water supply, as opposed to an undeveloped aquifer which is not being utilized. Phase 1 of the Ground Water Protection Regulation was passed in 2004. The Ground Water Advisory Boards work, as well as public engagement on Phase 2 has been completed. In Living Water Smart: BCs Water Plan 2008, government committed to improve protection of the quality and quantity of our ground water. This includes regulating groundwater use in priority areas and large groundwater withdrawals. Stakeholders and local government have told us that in addition to regulating groundwater use, new regulations must address well siting and setbacks, additional standards for well construction, cross contamination of aquifers, well pump installation, flow testing, controlling flowing artesian wells, storage of toxic substances, and well reporting requirements. These improvements to our ground water legislation and regulations are being addressed through the Ministry of Environments current work to modernize the Water Act. Legislation is planned for introduction in the legislature in Spring 2012 with regulations to follow.