Whereas the small water systems in rural British Columbia, which are administered by local governments, provide essential services to rural residents and communities, yet they face unsustainable financial burdens due to the high costs of water treatment systems, ongoing maintenance, and replacing aging infrastructure, which can amount to millions of dollars; And whereas it is not possible for rural residents and communities to finance these systems through local taxation alone, threatening the viability of these water systems and the communities they serve, while also posing a significant risk to local food security: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial and federal governments to establish long-term sustainable funding programs specifically for small water systems to address high cost and regulatory compliance requirements and to safeguard local food security, and for a collaborative approach to funding and support, including cost-sharing models, grant programs and capacity-building initiatives, to enable small rural water systems to remain viable and resilient amidst growing environmental and economic pressures.
