Changing Waters: B.C.’s new W ater Sustainability Act Coastal Water Suppliers Association April 3, 2014 Ian Graeme, RPF Water Protection and Sustainability Branch Ministry of Environment livingwatersmart@gov.bc.ca 1
Science and policy Water Sustainability Act 2
Clean and abundant water is essential Public health and well-being Thriving communities, a growing population Healthy ecosystems and fish populations Food production and nutrition Strong diverse economy
A long history of regulating surface water Number of Water Licences (Surface Water) 1,100 110 2,050 Domestic 2,600 1,600 Irrigation industrial 5,000 Waterworks 25,000 Storage (non-power) Waterpower 15,000 Storage (water power) Other Number of licences rounded for presentation 4
Our water is under pressure • Naturally flow sensitive areas • Population growth and urbanization • Climate change • Existing Water allocation restrictions • Competing demands 5
A central piece of the legislative framework for water 6
Public Engagement Process Stage 1 – Stage 2 – Stage 3 – Fall 2013 2009/2010 2011/2012 • Launched Website • Released Policy • Re-launch Blog and Blog Paper and website • Discussion Paper • Analysis of Public • Released WSA • Regional Input Legislative Workshops Proposal • Report on • Overview Engagement Document • Bilateral meetings All documents & submissions available at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/watersustainabilityact/ 7
Engaging British Columbians Legislative Proposal (October 2014) Local Gov’t First Nations Other organizations Partnerships Stakeholder Professional groups NGO Academia Citizens Agriculture Business/industry • 3150 written submissions • 13,000 visits to blog/website • Bilateral meetings, presentations 8
Some of what we’ve heard • Support groundwater regulation • Consideration of Environmental Flow Needs should not be discretionary • Systematic approach to addressing demand during times of scarcity • Respect First Nations relationship with water • Area-based tools needed • Water is undervalued; fees and rentals should be reviewed • Resources to implement 9
Seven water policy areas 1. Protect Stream Health and Aquatic Environments 2. Consider Water in Land Use Decisions 3. Regulate Groundwater Use 4. Regulate During Scarcity 5. Improve Security, Water Use Efficiency, Conservation 6. Measure and Report 7. Enable a Range of Governance Approaches 10
1. Protect stream health and aquatic environments • Consider environmental flow needs in new water allocation decisions • For existing licences, allow temporary restrictions to protect critical environmental flow needs • Expand prohibitions on dumping debris into streams and aquifers 11
2. Considering water in land use decisions • Consider water objectives in resource and land use decisions • Develop water sustainability plans 12
3. Regulate and protect groundwater use • Manage surface and groundwater as single resource • Most uses will be licensed; fees and annual rentals • Domestic uses excluded • Date of first use would guide priority date • Improve understanding of aquifers 13
Under Water Act : Surface and non- domestic ground water licensed Surface Water User Surface Water user - Licence Licence Required Yes - Application fee and Application fee and Yes annual rental Annual Rentals - Water right Water right Yes - Certainty of access to Improved security Yes water for my use from water right - Rules apply during May be regulated Yes scarcity during scarcity 14
Under new WSA: Surface and non- domestic ground water licensed Surface Water User Surface Water user Ground Water user Ground Water User (non-domestic) - Licence - No licence Licence Required Yes Yes - Application fee and - No application fee and Application fee and Yes Yes annual rental annual rental Annual Rentals - Water right - No water right Water right Yes Yes - Certainty of access to - No certainty of access Improved security Yes Yes water for my use to water for my use from water right - Rules apply during - No rules during scarcity May be regulated Yes Yes scarcity during scarcity 15
Domestic groundwater use exempted from licensing 3,100 Domestic wells (exempt from 15,000 licensing) Small-medium, non-domestic (<250 m3/day) 80,000 Large, non- domestic (>250 m3/day) 16
4. Regulating water use during scarcity • All users could be regulated during scarcity – including groundwater • Retain FITFIR with exceptions • Ensure water supply for essential human and livestock needs • Allow temporary restrictions to protect critical environmental flows • Retain Section 9 of Fish Protection Act 17
S. 1 - Definitions "environmental flow needs" , in relation to a stream, means the volume and timing of water flow required for the proper functioning of the aquatic ecosystem of the stream; (see S. 15) "critical environmental flow threshold" , in relation to the flow of water in a stream, means the volume of water flow below which significant or irreversible harm to the aquatic ecosystem of the stream is likely to occur; 18
5. Improving security, water use efficiency and conservation • Expand beneficial use requirement • Set water conservation targets and carry out audits • Make water licences reviewable • Allow area-based regulation for specific regions • Enable creation of agricultural water reserves 19
6. Measuring and reporting water use • Require large volume users to measure, record and report water use • Smaller volume users to measure in specific circumstances under “area - based” regulations • WSA would not require mandatory meters in households 20
7. Enable a range of governance approaches • Increase flexibility in governance arrangements to better suit local needs • Allow for delegation of some activities or decisions to agencies outside of government • Support the creation of advisory groups • Clear and consistent provincial framework 21
Key implications for users • Fees/rentals for licensed groundwater use • Requirements for measuring and reporting • Potential for more regulation to protect environmental flow needs 22
Bill stages BILL introduced to House at first reading (March 11) Second reading of BILL COMMITTEE Third reading of BILL ROYAL ASSENT 23
Next steps 2014/15: • Continue delivery in accordance with current Water Act and regulations • Review and update regulation on water fees and rentals • Draft WSA supporting regulations and policies • Draft WSA Amendments if and as required • IM/IT system(s) to support groundwater licensing 2015: • Target for WSA and key regulations coming into force 24
How Much is 1000 cubic metres? 1,000,000 litres 50,000 five-gallon jugs Enough for 15,000 showers Fills a 25 metre swimming pool
Annual licensed volume and revenue item one
Principles to inform water pricing • Simplicity • Fairness and equity • Implications for water users • Impact on water resource • Cost recovery • Efficiency • Food security and public health
Process for water pricing review item one
Thank you! Website: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/watersustainabilityact/ Email: livingwatersmart@gov.bc.ca
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Local government comments ... • Groundwater regulation and protection of stream health • Streamlining planning and decision-making processes • Shared responsibility and decision-making • Varying support for governance changes • Concerns around fees for groundwater use • Priority use during times of scarcity • Resources to implement
Engagement process Stage 1 – Stage 2 – Stage 3 – Fall 2013 2009/2010 2011/2012 • Launched • Released Policy • Re-launch Blog Website and Paper and website • Analysis of Public • Released WSA Blog • Discussion Paper Input Legislative • Regional Proposal • Overview Workshops • Report on Document • Bilateral Engagement meetings All documents & submissions available at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/watersustainabilityact/ 34
Some of what we’ve heard • Support groundwater regulation • Consideration of Environmental Flow Needs should not be discretionary • Systematic approach to addressing demand during times of scarcity • Respect First Nations relationship with water • Area-based tools needed • Water is undervalued. Fees and rentals should be reviewed 35
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