LiveSmart BC

Today is World Water Day so it’s a good time for all of us to think about conserving and protecting one of our most precious natural assets.  World Water Day reminds us how valuable our water resources are and the responsibilities that come with being stewards of this resource. 

Water is central to B.C.’s beautiful landscapes. A clean and secure supply of water is absolutely vital to our health, our vibrant communities and the environment that supports them.  Water is also essential to growing our food and to the operation and growth of our resource sectors including agriculture, energy, mining and forestry.

This is why the Ministry of Environment, along with other provincial ministries, is working with community groups, industry, academic institutions, other governments, professional groups and other organizations to further our knowledge of B.C.’s water resources.

One of my highest priorities and a key commitment in B.C.’s Living Water Smart Plan is modernizing our outdated Water Act.  Modernizing the Water Act will better protect our water resources and help keep our environment, economy and communities strong. The proposed Water Sustainability Act will update and replace the existing Water Act, respond to current and future pressures on water, and position B.C. as a leader in water stewardship.

I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their views on Water Act Modernization.  I am truly impressed by the scale and quality of submissions and ideas. To date, the Province has received over 2,250 written submissions from individual citizens, First Nations organizations and stakeholder groups. Through this process, our government has developed a much better understanding of the public’s knowledge and views and the proposed new Act will be much stronger as a result.

We will be further engaging with the public later this year on the new Act and I encourage you to join the conversation. What government does is only part of the solution – so I challenge all British Columbians to think about how they can protect, preserve and conserve our water. 

Share your ideas by posting a comment on the Living Water Smart Blog.

There’s help for BC Communities and Irrigators with free web-based tools to do more with the same amount of water – or even with less water!

By conserving water, communities and business can avoid the costs associated with new infrastructure such as distribution pipes and treatment facilities, as well as reduce energy use.

For Communities

The Water Conservation Calculator can help support sound decisions in communities by demonstrating water and cost-savings for specific conservation measures.

The Water Balance Model can help assess the effectiveness of “green infrastructure” in achieving a lighter water footprint and protecting stream health.  It promotes rainwater management and green urban development practices.

For Irrigators

The Irrigation Scheduling Calculator was designed by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the National Water Supply Expansion Program, and the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia.  The calculator provides an irrigation schedule using real-time climate data from Farmwest.  It works for most irrigation systems, both agriculture and landscape.

The tool is part of the BC Government’s commitment to improve irrigation efficiency under BC’s Living Water Smart Plan.

Something For Everyone

The Water Bucket is an initiative of the Partnership for Watershed Sustainability in BC. With links to tons of resources on water management, you’re sure to find something of interest.  And don’t forget about our Living Water Smart Home Water Assessment Tool!

What better time to reduce your water footprint and increase water conservation than Canada Water Week!

“Discover Your Water Footprint” is the theme of this year’s Canada Water Week, which runs this week, March 19-25, and coincides with World Water Day on March 22.

Did you know that the average British Columbian uses about 490 litres of water each day? If you include the water that is embedded in the food you eat, the clothes you wear and the products you use every day, your “water footprint” may be over 6,000 litres a day. Over the course of a year, that’s almost a full Olympic-sized swimming pool of water per person!

As British Columbians, we are proud of our rivers, lakes, streams and watersheds. A secure supply of clean water is needed for our growing communities, healthy food, economic growth, clean energy and our beautiful environment. But as a finite resource, water’s limits must also be recognized.

Conserving water reduces our need for expanding drinking water and wastewater treatment and other expensive water infrastructure. By learning about your water footprint, you can also ‘conserve’ water through making more informed consumer choices. Water conservation reduces our impact on the environment and can save you and your community money.

Jump in and help celebrate Canada Water Week! Here’s how:

• Visit the Canada Water Week website to learn more about your water footprint and local events.
• Check out this interactive infographic and consider ways that you can reduce your water footprint – then share your ideas for saving water!
• Tell us about an inspiring Water Champion in your community.
• Learn more about B.C.’s Living Water Smart Plan and the proposed new Water Sustainability Act.

Visit our blog this week for more updates and information on water in B.C.!