WHEREAS the discharge of phosphate nutrients causes the eutrophication of valuable fish bearing streams and pollutes drinking water; AND WHEREAS local governments face considerable costs in having to comply with required phosphorous concentration guidelines: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the provincial government to implement measures to discourage the use of phosphate detergents and encourage phosphorous-free alternatives, through such measures as environmental taxes or rebates.
Ministry of Water, Land Air Protection The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection recognizes the intention of the resolution that the province encourage the use of phosphorous-free detergents. To this end, the ministry will ask the Ministry of Finance to consider the Union of British Columbia UBCM proposal that tax-incentives be used to reduce the volume of phosphates. The ministry also supports the development of effective LWMPs to manage site-specific environmental concerns related to domestic wastewater and nutrient-risk surface runoff discharging into provincially significant watercourses.