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Be part of what happens to water in the province

A new Water Sustainability Act that will replace the current Water Act is being proposed, and the public is being asked for feedback.

Water has frequently been the subject of news stories, particularly the legalities around treatment, usage and ownership of water.

A new Water Sustainability Act that will replace the current Water Act is being proposed, and the public is being asked to provide feedback.

The new Act is touted as making improvements in key areas, namely the protection of stream health and aquatic environments; water considerations in land-use decisions; regulations and protection of groundwater; regulation of water in times of scarcity; improvement of security, efficiency and conservation; and measurement and reporting of large-scale water use. The Act is also to provide for a range of governance approaches of water in the province.

Citizens can contribute feedback via email, fax, post or online until Nov. 15, and input that is received will be posted online.

Agricultural interests such as the BC Cattlemen’s Association and the BC Agricultural Council are clear that protecting water quality and access is a necessary part of food security, and see the new Act as necessary. They aren’t alone.

“A new Water Sustainability Act would serve to modernize the existing, century-old Water Act, which doesn’t reflect today’s norms or values, especially from an environmental perspective. This new legislation would be a significant and welcomed step forward, and will improve our ability to better manage and care for our rivers, aquifers and water resources in general,” said Mark Angelo, rivers chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC.

Water and water management affects all aspects of life. Make your voice heard about the new Water Sustainability Act before Nov. 15. The legislative proposal and summary document for the new Water Sustainability Act can be found online.