WHEREAS the provincial government has not acted to grant management authority to legally constitute water purveyors over community watersheds used for potable water as recommended by UBCM resolution 1998-B65; AND WHEREAS there are continuing conflicts of use within community watersheds used for potable water all over British Columbia, as exemplified by the pending sand and gravel extraction application in Chapman Creek Community Watershed that serves approximately 21,000 Sunshine Coast residents; AND WHEREAS the local purveyor of water and therefore the local ratepayer bear all the long term financial liability for water treatment and for maintaining water supply: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the British Columbia provincial government to enact legislation that empowers local government water purveyors to protect the community watersheds used for potable water.
MINISTRY OF WATER, LAND AIR PROTECTION The Province recognizes the importance of clean, safe drinking water for its citizens, and has passed the Drinking Water Protection Act DWPA to protect drinking water from source to tap. The DWPA grants broad powers to regional Health Authorities to protect drinking water, including source water protection in community watersheds. The Province recommends that municipalities work closely with regional Health Authorities to identify any risks to source water in community watersheds, and to ensure those risks are assessed and mitigated.