WHEREAS the Drinking Water Protection Act may now require a water supplier to undertake water assessments that identify, inventory and assess the drinking water source for the water supply system, including land use and other activities and conditions that may affect that source; AND WHEREAS the water supplier does not have authority to control land use, including recreation activities that may affect the water source when the water source is located on Crown lands: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be required to conduct adequate risk assessments that identify, inventory and assess threats to drinking water, including recreation activities, prior to approving such use on Crown lands within community watersheds.
MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Most community watersheds in British Columbia support multiple uses: Industrial uses are approved and managed in respect of standards and guidelines that minimize the impact of those activities on the water supply. The economic activity generated benefits British Columbians at a local, regional and provincial level. Recreational use in community watersheds also provides a benefit to the community, in providing local recreation opportunities, with associated economic opportunities. Recreation management strategies provide a means of identifying and communicating acceptable ways of recreating in a watershed, without unnecessarily precluding use. Under the Drinking Water Protection Act, it is the responsibility of the water purveyor to carry out an assessment of the risks to drinking water if required by the Drinking Water Officer. It is appropriate that the purveyor identify the real, rather than the perceived risks to the water supply. The purveyor can then work with the appropriate government agencies to address the issues. The Province recognizes the complexity of the issue. Through a directors committee and an Assistant Deputy Ministers coordination committee, involving a number of ministries, a coordinated management framework is under development that is intended to protect drinking water values.