Welcome to Our Water BC
Welcome to Our Water BC – a new resource for you to help shape British Columbia’s water future. The BC government is changing how we manage water in this province - make sure they know how to do it right!
Water is essential for all life but growing populations and climate change are putting this crucial resource under increasing pressure in many regions of the world, including British Columbia.
Our current Water Act dates back to 1909, when there were less than half a million people living in our province. Today, we number over 4.5 million – times have changed and so must our water laws!
Here in BC, we have faced enormous challenges to our water supply – from the water-poor areas in the Okanagan that must supply a significant agricultural region, to proposed industrial activities in the Skeena Headwaters that threaten some of our most abundant salmon rivers, to growing oil and gas activities in the northeast that are consuming vast amounts of water while the region faces drought conditions. In 2006, the municipality of Tofino garnered national headlines when this tourism hub in the midst of Canada’s rainforest faced critical water shortages that shut down hotels and restaurants.
- Similkameen River at Bromley Rock near Hedley. The Similkameen is the lifeblood of the torrid Okanagan. Here, shrunk to half its size in August. Photo: Ana Simeon
The BC government has recognized the need for an updated Water Act. The Living Water Smart plan for BC is now the basis of a broad public consultation that resulted in more than 1000 submissions from British Columbians earlier this year.
But there is more to come, and we have an extraordinary opportunity ahead of us to help shape BC’s new Water Act. Through this website and emails we will keep you updated on the latest water news, and opportunities to tell government your thoughts on how we should manage water smarter in BC.
British Columbia needs to protect its groundwater supplies, ensure rivers and streams provide enough water for fish and wildlife to survive, prioritize water allocation for drinking water, fish habitat, and other social and environmental needs, address governance gaps with municipalities and First Nations and maintain water as a public resource for present and future generations.
The province will soon be asking us once again what kind of future we want our water laws to have. We need to raise our voices together – join us by signing the petition and adding your voice.
