Province Information - British Columbia, Canada

The province of British Columbia (BC) is widely diverse in its geography - from the Canadian Rockies to the Okanagan Valley, and from desert-like conditions to temperate rain forests.  The majority of the population gets its water from surface sources, but these sources are glacier-fed and, therefore, somewhat uncertain in the long term.  Ground water sources are often over-used and many are suffering from pollution.  The anticipated impacts of climate change on BC surface water supplies and the decreasing capacity of groundwater resources led the Province to develop the “Living Water Smart Strategy” in 2008.  The strategy has a target of supplying 50% of new municipal water needs through conservation by 2020 and an increase in water use efficiency of 33%across the province. The province has also committed to encouraging the labeling of water-efficient technologies, educating British Columbians on how to save water and money, and looking at new ways to help promising water conservation technology succeed through integrated resource recovery.
1. What provincial ministry, department or agencies are in charge of water conservation/efficiency?
2. Does the province require preparation of drought emergency plans by water utilities or cities on any prescribed schedule?

No.

The province does not require water utilities or cities to prepare a drought emergency plan but the Ministry of Environment does encourage drought plans, and many communities are beginning to prepare for low stream flow conditions with drought management plans. 

The provincial drought action plan (2005) includes two key action items: 1) develop an emergency response template and assist communities in developing emergency response plans for loss of potable water and/or fire fighting water, and 2) ensure a provincial drought management plan is in place for future years.

The publication “Dealing with Drought:  A Handbook for Water Suppliers in British Columbia” (2009) provides drought management goals and support for water suppliers assessing, planning, and responding to drought conditions. 

Related Links:

3. Does the province have a mandatory planning requirement for drinking water conservation separate from drought emergency plans?

No
Additional Information:

BC does not require drinking water conservation plans but the Ministry of Community and Rural Affairs has recently changed the eligibility requirement for water and wastewater infrastructure funding to require a council-approved water efficiency plan.   See question 8 for further information.

The province (Ministry of Environment) will act as a support arm for communities doing watershed management planning in priority areas and is encouraging watershed considerations be incorporated into other plans like regional growth strategies.


Related Links:
4. Does the province require implementation of conservation measures as well as preparation of plans?
No

Additional Information:

Water conservation measures are not currently required but with the implementation of the “Living Water Smart Strategy” (2008) key measures that communities will be responsible for include: 

Measure One: Requiring all large water users to measure and report water use (many water users are still not metered).  Actual requirements vary depending on the location of the user, how much water is available, and the impact that water use will have on the environment. Requirements will be introduced through Water Act Modernization Project.

Measure Two:  As of 2008, the provincial plumbing code requires toilets to flush with no more than 6 litres, and other water-saving plumbing fixtures and fittings will become mandatory in new construction and renovations.

Measure Three:  By 2010 government will mandate purple pipes in new construction for water collection and re-use.


5. Does the province have the authority to approve or reject the conservation plans?

plan completeness?

No

satisfactory content?

No

Additional Information:
N/A because no water conservation plans are currently required

Related Links:
6. Does the province have minimum water efficiency standards more stringent than federal or national requirements?
Yes

The National Building Code of Canada is the model building code of Canada. It is issued by the Institute for Research and Construction (IRC), a part of the National Research Council of Canada. As a model code, it has no legal status until it is adopted by a jurisdiction that regulates construction. The Provinces and Territories of Canada are allowed to adopt parts or all of the code and to alter the code as they see fit.

The National Building Code is currently undergoing revisions and a proposal was made in 2008 to update the Non-potable Water Systems Section 2.7.4 to include design requirements in accordance with CSA B128.1 and to limit use of non-potable water to water closets, urinals, and directly connected underground irrigation systems.

As of 2005 the National Plumbing Code does not explicitly mandate the use of water efficient fixtures – instead it references the ASME A112.18.1-2005 / CSA B125.1-2005 standards which dictate maximum flush volumes for toilets of 13.2 litres, maximum flow rates of 8.3 litres per minute (Lpm) for lavatory and kitchen faucets, and 9.5 Lpm for showerheads. The National Plumbing Code currently allows non-potable sources to be used with dual plumbing systems within the home for fixtures other than sinks and faucets, and rainwater to be used for underground irrigation.

The BC Green Building Code Initiative came into effect in the provincial building code September of 2008.  The new plumbing code requires the installation of six litre toilets in new construction and adopts the 2005 National Plumbing Code standards for all other fixtures and non-potable water use. 

Also a new objective of the code is to “limit the probability that, as a result of design, construction or renovation of a building the use of water will be unacceptably inefficient.”  The unacceptable risks of inefficient water use addressed in the code are those caused by: inefficient plumbing fixtures and inefficient water distribution systems.

By 2010, government will also mandate purple pipes in new construction for water collection and re-use.

7. Does the province regulate drinking water supplies and require conservation as part of its permitting process or water right permit?
No

The Drinking Water Protection Act (2001) is administered by Local Health Authorities.  The Act requires that water supply systems must provide potable water and must have construction and operating permits. It also establishes qualification standards for operators, requirements for emergency response, water monitoring, water source and system assessments, a process for preparing a drinking water protection plan, and a multi-barrier approach to source water protection.

Conservation is currently not required as part of the licensing process in private utilities but a management plan outlining operations and maintenance is required. 

In contrast to surface water supplies, the reporting requirements for groundwater well drilling are voluntary and by location, source, and purpose of extraction.   No license is required for ground water extraction.

By 2012, through the “Living Water Smart Plan” (2008), the government will regulate groundwater use in priority areas and large groundwater withdrawals. 


8. Does the province support water conservation under its Drinking Water or Wastewater infrastructure funding programs?

Drinking Water?

No

Waste Water?

No

Additional Information:

The Ministry of Community and Rural Development has tied infrastructure spending to water conservation efforts. 

The Building Canada plan is the primary mechanism in Canada for funding water and wastewater infrastructure, and it encompasses a number of funds including provincial and municipal base funding, gas tax funds, and the Building Canada fund. Over half of the funding under the Building Canada plan is provided as base funding to municipalities, and the funds are generally administered by the provinces. The Building Canada fund promotes long-term funding of water infrastructure projects, including projects designed to improve conservation of water. Funding focuses on improved treatment standards that emphasize the protection of human health. The projects are required to be supported by measures that improve the management of sources of drinking water, reduce demand, and improve the management of drinking water infrastructure.

All projects are cost shared, generally in equal thirds between federal/provincial/municipal governments. The Building Canada fund operates through two components: the Major Infrastructure Component (MIC) that targets large strategic projects of national and regional significance, and the Communities Component that focuses on projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000.

In BC, The Building Canada Fund (BCF) is a joint Provincial and Federal funding program for infrastructure work such as drinking water and wastewater.  Part of this funding is administered through the Ministry of Community and Rural Development which has a BC Community Water Improvement Program, a provincial funding program to improve water and wastewater infrastructure.  There are several priority areas for funding, one of which includes implementing, in whole or part, a Drought Management Plan or a Community Water Conservation Strategy

Federally, the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) provides grants for up to 50% of project costs, or below-market, low interest loans of up to 80% of project costs. FCM is an advocacy organization; however the Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the GMF program.

The GMF funds municipal projects and studies which have included feasibility studies of water conservation programs, water distribution system leak detection and control projects, plumbing retrofit programs, wastewater recycling, and sustainable community plans involving water conservation. At this time, the funding focus for capital projects is on wastewater, while sustainable community plans, conservation-related studies, and field tests continue to be eligible.


9. Does the province offer other financial assistance? Environmental grants? Rebates? Tax Exemptions?
No
10. Does the province offer direct or indirect technical assistance to the public?

Yes.

The Ministry of Community and Rural Development is developing a Water Conservation Manual (expected to be released in late 2009) that will help communities calculate potential costs and water savings attributable to different measures.  The ministry, along with the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, released the “Water Conservation Planning Guidebook for British Columbia Municipalities”. The BC Ministry of Environment has developed several tools as part of the Living Water Smart Strategy, such as:

1) The Water Smart Home Assessments.
The assessment tasks helps consumers think about how they use water in the home.  It compares usual practices with water efficient practices and helps consumers identify steps to reduce water use and impacts. 

2) The Waterbucket
The Waterbucket is a collaborative online resource designed to provide the complete story on integrated water management - why, what, where, and how.

3) Water Balance Model In collaboration with provincial organizations the Water Balance Model was created to bridge engineering and urban planning.  It is meant to provide detailed calculations to help communities create neighbourhoods that integrate both good planning and innovative engineering designs.

4) Water Conservation Workshops
The Ministry of Environment is partnering with provincial organizations to host water conservation workshops for municipal practitioners that will build capacity in water conservation planning and measures.

11. Does the province provide provincial ET microclimate information?

Yes.

Farmwest is supported by the BC government and by using climate data from Federal, Provincial, and Farm weather data provides local microclimate information. 

12. Does the province have a water conservation and efficiency strategy?
Yes


Additional Information:

13. Does the province have standards for alternative water sources?
No



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