 |
 |
|
|
Water Quality
Tackling
Non-Point Source Water Pollution in British Columbia
An
Action Plan
March
1999
Implementing the Action Plan
Local Issues, Local Actions
The long-term goal
of improving water quality affected by NPS pollution through
education, preventative planning, community stewardship, new
policies, economic incentives, and regulations is very ambitious.
It cannot succeed without extensive support from a wide range
of stakeholders, including the public, local government, community
groups, First Nations, provincial agencies and federal agencies.
Successful NPS management will require development of new relationships
between all these parties; this will take time, and concerted
and sustained effort.
To lead
such an undertaking, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and
Parks (now called Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection)
has chosen a three-pronged strategy-providing leadership, supporting
others and building partnerships, and delivery through pilot
projects.
1. Providing Leadership means the Ministry will:
- announce the
NPS Action Plan, build awareness, and invite participation
by agency partners
- coordinate
activities across agencies to capitalize on many NPS pollution
prevention activities underway and planned
- lead
activities that are the responsibility of the ministry, such
as provincial policy-setting and environmental regulations
where necessary
- focus
first on actions that have provincial implications and broadest
application
2. Supporting Others and Building Partnerships means the Ministry
will:
- support
activities of other agencies, local governments, community
organizations, and stewardship groups, who share a role in
managing NPS pollution and in finding and implementing solutions
- share information
and provide supporting technical information
- support
the federal government in the Lower Fraser / Georgia Basin
planning process and identify links between NPS pollution management
and the Lower Fraser / Georgia Basin Action Plans
- support
the establishment of water conservation and water reuse programs
- support
pollution prevention initiatives and best management practices
- participate
in developing a public awareness strategy (communication, education,
and training)
3. Delivery Through Pilot Projects means the Ministry will:
- select priority
watersheds subject to urbanization pressures or experiencing
significant agricultural impacts, and implement pilot projects
in cooperation with all local authorities
- consult
with other agencies, local and federal governments, and community
organizations in determining candidate pilot projects (e.g.,
the Lower Fraser/ Georgia Basin planning process)
- facilitate
sharing of pilot project results, to improve NPS management
practices
Non-point
source pollution and potential solutions must be discussed and
developed within a local context. For example, whereas agriculture
may be a key NPS pollution issue in the Lower Fraser Valley,
stormwater may be the main concern in an urban setting. Therefore,
solutions to NPS pollution are best led by the local community
or local government.
The Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now called Ministry of Water,
Land and Air Protection) proposes to participate with local
governments in developing selected pilot projects to implement
the actions described in this report. Candidate pilot projects
need to have strong local community support, and local government
interest in dealing cooperatively with land-use planning and
NPS pollution. Potential pilot projects are being discussed
with MELP (now WLAP) regional offices, local government, and
Environment Canada. For example, MELP is participating in the
five-year
delivery of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative. There is
considerable opportunity to explore potential projects with
other partners in the high growth areas of the province.
The highlights
of the Action Plan are listed in Table 3 and
will be delivered in a phased approach. This Action Plan should
be viewed as
a living document that will be subject to review and improvement
over time. Further public and stakeholder comment on the proposed
actions is welcomed.
Return
to the Table of Contents
Sources
The following
key documents were reviewed in developing the Action Plan:
- 2010:
Paul Saffo of the Institute for the Future Looks Ahead. August
1996.
Bottom Line. Boulder Colorado. page 14.
- A National
Water Agenda for the 21st Century: Final Report. November
1992.
Water Environment Federation, United States.
- BC Salmon
Habitat Conservation Plan-Strategy Paper. September 1995.
Province of British Columbia, Victoria, BC
- Backgrounder:
Fraser Valley Groundwater Monitoring Program. 1996. Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks; Ministry
of Health;
and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Victoria,
BC
- Basin
Plan Workbook. July 1996. Fraser Basin Management Program.
Vancouver, BC
- Board
Report Card 1996. June 1996. Fraser Basin Management Program.
Vancouver, BC
- British
Columbia Water Quality Status Report. April 1996. Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Water Quality
Branch. Victoria,
BC
- Clean
Vehicles and Fuels for British Columbia: A Policy Paper.
April 1995. Ministry of Environment,
Lands and
Parks. Victoria,
BC
- Clean
Water Framework Draft August 9, 1996. Ministry of Environment,
Lands and Parks, Environmental
Protection Department. Victoria,
BC
- Community
Greenways: Linking Communities to People and People to Nature.
1995. The
Stewardship
Series.
Province
of British
Columbia and Department of Fisheries and
Oceans, Vancouver, BC
- Community
Stewardship: A Guide to Establishing Your Own Group. (undated).
The Stewardship
Series. Fraser
Basin
Management Program,
Canadian Wildlife Service, Department
of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Forest
Renewal BC's
Watershed Restoration
Program.
Vancouver, BC
- Conserving
Our Resource: Fisheries Program Strategic Plan 1991-1995.
1991. Ministry
of Environment,
Lands and Parks,
Fisheries Branch.
Victoria, BC
- Environment
2001: Strategic Directions for British Columbia. 1991. Ministry
of Environment,
Lands
and Parks. Victoria,
BC
- Environmental
Action Plan for British Columbia. 1992. Ministry of Environment,
Lands and
Parks. Victoria,
BC
- Environmental
Protection System (Draft #4).
May 17, 1996. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Water
Quality Branch. Victoria, BC Environmental
Trends in British Columbia.
1988. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria,
BC
- Final
Report on Abatement Activities Related to Agriculture in
the Thompson Basin and Cariboo
Region During the Fraser River Action Plan. 1998. DOE FRAP
1997-44. Vancouver BC
- Georgia
Basin Initiative. December, 1993. BC Round Table on the Environment
and the Economy.
Victoria, BC
- Goals
and Objectives for Strategic Planning. 1995. Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks.
Victoria, BC
- Guide
to Establishing a Local Round Table. (undated).
BC
Round Table on the Environment
and the Economy. Victoria,
BC
- Guidelines
for Developing a Liquid Waste Management
Plan.
August, 1992. Ministry
of Environment, Lands
and Parks,
Municipal
Waste
Reduction Branch. Victoria,
BC
- "
Infecting Ourselves: How Environmental and Social Disruptions
Trigger Disease." April
1996. by Anne E.
Platt. World Watch
Paper 129. Washington,
D.C.
- Issue
Paper: Non-Point Source
Pollution.
May 1986. Puget
Sound Water Quality
Authority. Seattle,
Washington.
- Issues
and Options Paper for Non-Point
Source
Pollution Management
in British Columbia.
February 1996.
Report prepared
by KPMG.
for Ministry
of Environment, Lands
and Parks,
Water Quality
Branch, Victoria,
BC
- Local
Round Tables: Realizing Their
Full Potential.
June 1994.
Commission on Resources
and Environment.
Victoria,
BC
- Managing
Water Pollution from Non-point
Sources in Washington
State:
A strategy (preliminary
draft).
November 12,
1996. State
of Washington,
Department
of Ecology,
Olympia Washington.
- Multiple
Account Analysis
of Non-Point Source
Pollution
in BC. Draft 1997.
Crane
Management
Consultants.
Report
prepared for
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Victoria,
BC
- Non-Point
Source
Pollution
in
British
Columbia:
An
Assessment of
Environmental
Impacts.
August
6,
1996. Report
prepared
by
ESSA
Technologies
Ltd.
for
Ministry of Environment,
Lands
and
Parks, Environmental
Protection
Department,
in
cooperation
with
Environment
Canada.
Victoria,
BC
- Non-Point
Source
Pollution:
Problem
Definition.
March
1996.
Report
prepared
by
Norecol,
Dames
and
Moore
for
Ministry
of
Environment,
Lands
and
Parks,
Water
Quality
Branch,
Victoria,
BC
- "
Our Polluted Runoff" by John G. Mitchell, National Geographic
Vol. 189, No.
2, February 1996. pp. 106-125.
- Report
on British Columbia's Progress Toward Sustainability - Interim
Draft. March 1996. Commission on Resources and Environment.
Victoria, BC
- Report
on Community-Based Multi-Stakeholder Sustainability Groups
in British Columbia. (undated). Commission on Resources
and Environment. Victoria, BC
- Saanich
Inlet Study. April 1996. Ministry of Environment, Lands and
Parks. Victoria,
BC
- Salmon
Aquaculture Review Discussion Paper on Waste Discharges.
January 1997. Brenda Burd, Environmental Assessment
Office. Victoria, BC
- State
of Environment Report
for British Columbia. 1993. Ministry
of Environment, Lands
and
Parks and Environment Canada, Victoria, BC
- Stewardship
of the Water of British
Columbia: A Review of
British
Columbia's
Water Management Policy
and Legislation. 1993.
Ministry
of Environment, Lands
and
Parks. Victoria, BC
- Strategic
Plan (1997-2001).
Draft
May 17, 1996. Ministry
of Environment,
Lands and Parks. Victoria,
BC
- Stream
Stewardship: A
Guide
for
Planners and Developers.
1993/94. The Stewardship
Series. Province
of
British
Columbia and Department
of Fisheries and
Oceans,
Vancouver, BC
- Taking
Action on Non-Point
Source
Pollution:
Developing
Legislative
Tools. 1996.
Proceedings
of NPS Pollution
Management
Workshop, Richmond,
BC,
February 27,
1996.
Ministry of Environment,
Lands
and Parks and
Environment
Canada, Victoria,
BC
- Urban
Runoff Quality
Guidelines
for the
Province
of British
Columbia.
June,
1992.
Ministry of Environment,
Lands and
Parks, Municipal
Waste Reduction
Branch.
Victoria,
BC.
- Water
Management:
A
Strategic
Plan
for
the
90's.
February
1995.
Ministry
of
Environment,
Lands and Parks.
Victoria,
BC
- Water
Quality
Objectives
Fact
Sheet.
(undated).
Fraser
River
Action
Plan.
Environment
Canada.
Vancouver,
BC
- Water:
Taking
a
New
Tack
on
Non-Point
Water
Pollution.
1995.
National
Forum
on
Non-Point
Source
Pollution.
Terrene
Institute,
Washington,
D.C.
- Watershed
Management:
Planning
and
Managing
a
Successful
Project
to
Control
Non-point
Source
Pollution.
April
1995.
North
Carolina
Cooperative
Extension
Service,
North
Carolina
State
University.
- Watersheds
'93.
A
National
Conference
on
Watershed
Management.
Proceedings.
March
21-24,
1993.
Alexandria,
Virginia.
-
-
-
Table 1:
Legislation Related to Non-Point Source Water Pollution Management
in British Columbia
PROVINCIAL
| Legislation |
Purpose |
Lead
Agencies |
| Water
Protection Act |
confirms
crown ownership of surface and ground water and prohibits
large-scale diversion or removal of water |
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Water, Land and
Air Protection) |
| Water
Act |
provides
for approval of all water use, storage and diversion
of water, and works in and about streams |
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Water, Land and
Air Protection) |
| Waste
Management Act |
requires
permits, approvals or operational certificates under
a liquid and solid waste management plan for discharges
to land, air and water and handling of solid and toxic
wastes; prohibits dumping/discarding litter and sewage |
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Water, Land and
Air Protection) |
| Environment
Management Act |
outlines
authority of minister and provides for environmental
assessments, protection orders, environmental emergency
measures, water quality guidelines and enforcement |
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Water, Land and
Air Protection) |
| Environmental
Assessment Act |
requires
environmental impact assessment for specified development
projects and activities |
Environmental
Assessment Office |
| Fish
Protection Act |
protects
fish by ensuring healthy fish-bearing streams and plentiful
stocks |
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Water, Land and
Air Protection) |
| Pesticide
Control Act |
regulates
the use and application of pesticides |
Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Water, Land and
Air Protection) |
| Health
Act |
regulates
approval of construction camps, public water supplies,
sewage disposal (under 22.7 m3/d to land and for single
or double unit dwellings to water), sanitation and food
supply operations |
Ministry
of Health |
| Forest
Practices Code of British Columbia Act |
establishes
forest and range practices, standards and requirements |
Ministry
of Forests / Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
|
| Fire
Services Act |
provides
approval of on-site fuel storage and dispensing |
Ministry
of Attorney General |
| Soil
Conservation Act |
establishes
permitting requirements for soil removal from an agricultural
land reserve, and regulates use of land in agricultural
land reserves |
Ministry
of Agriculture and Food |
| Farm
Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act |
ensures
that farmers can farm in agriculture land reserves; adds
specific powers to local governments; may regulate farm
conduct and prohibit specific farm operations |
Ministry
of Agriculture and Food |
| Municipal
Act |
provides
local government with authority to adopt zoning, subdivision
and other bylaws; permit construction; develop solid
and liquid waste management plans, provide water and
sewer services and address environmental concerns (e.g.,
protecting water quality) |
Ministry
of Municipal Affairs |
| Growth Strategies Act |
establishes basis for local governments to develop Regional
Growth Strategies and Official Community Plans to achieve
environmental, social and economic objectives |
Ministry
of Municipal Affairs |
Note: In
addition to the above statutes, numerous regulations, bylaws,
operating polices
and guidelines make up the existing management system for
NPS pollution. Some
international treaties and agreements also address water
pollution
(e.g., Boundary Waters Treaty).
FEDERAL
| Legislation |
Purpose |
Lead
Agencies |
| Fisheries
Act |
the
general pollution control provisions (Section 36) prohibit
harmful alteration of fish habitat and the deposit of
deleterious substances |
Fisheries
and Oceans Canada / Environment Canada |
Canadian
Environmental
Protection Act |
cradle-to-grave
control of toxic substances |
Environment
Canada / Health Canada |
| Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act |
requires
environmental impact assessment of all projects funded
or authorized by the federal government, or which take
place on federal lands |
Environment
Canada |
| Canada
Wildlife Act and
the Migratory Bird Conventions Act |
protects
wildlife, migratory birds and associated habitats |
Environment
Canada |
| Canada
Shipping Act |
regulates
shipping, including ship-sourced pollution, and the designation
of waterbodies under the Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution
Regulations and Non-Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution Regulations |
Transport
Canada / Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| Navigable
Waters Protection Act |
regulates
activities on navigable waters |
Fisheries
and Oceans Canada / Transport
Canada |
| Transportation
of Dangerous Goods Act |
defines
safety requirements for transport of dangerous goods |
Transport
Canada |
| Indian
Act |
provides
basis for federal authority over lands managed by First
Nations |
Indian
and Northern Affairs Canada |
Note:
In addition to the above statutes, numerous regulations,
bylaws, operating polices
and guidelines make up the existing management system for NPS pollution. Some
international treaties and agreements also address water pollution
(e.g., Boundary Waters Treaty).
Return to List of Tables
Table
2: Actions Under the Non-Point Source Pollution Action Plan
EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
To
increase awareness of NPS pollution prevention and promote
non-polluting behaviour. |
| 1.
Implement a public awareness strategy for NPS pollution. |
| 2.
Promote prevention of NPS pollution through industry
associations. |
PREVENTION
AT THE SITE
| To
provide specific voluntary tools and Best Management
Practices to direct or guide environmentally responsible
behaviour and stewardship actions at the source. |
| 3.
Support development and implementation of Best Management
Practices. |
| 4.
Promote water conservation. |
LAND
USE PLANNING, COORDINATION AND LOCAL ACTION
| To
provide proactive planning tools to address the need
for coordination of action across all agencies responsible
for managing NPS pollution, and for local understanding
and commitment to action. |
| 5.
Incorporate water resource management objectives into
land-use plans. |
| 6.
Promote NPS pollution prevention in waste management
planning initiatives. |
| 7.
Lead development of water management plans or liquid
waste management plans in critical areas. |
| 8.
Support government coordination. |
| 9.
Support community-based waterbody protection initiatives. |
ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING
| To
evaluate the effectiveness of the Action Plan in preventing
NPS pollution and improving the quality of surface
and ground water, and to guide ongoing Non-Point Source
Action Plan development. |
| 10.
Evaluate performance of NPS pollution actions. |
| 11.
Assess key NPS pollution cases. |
| 12. Continue reporting to the
public. |
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
| To
provide an opportunity for influencing behaviour and
generating revenue to address NPS prevention. |
| 13.
Assess the potential for using economic incentives to
encourage NPS pollution prevention. |
LEGISLATION
AND REGULATION
| To
provide the broad government framework for development
of programs, assignments of government resources and
enforcement of actions. |
| 14.
Implement the water quality provisions of the new Fish
Protection Act and Local Government Statutes
Amendment Act. |
| 15.
Enhance agricultural waste management. |
| 16.
Enhance on-site sewage management. |
| 17.
Enable more effective stormwater management. |
| 18.
Manage boat sewage. |
| 19. Address forestry and range
NPS impacts through the Forest Practices Code. |
| 20. Propose new legislation
to fill gaps. |
Return
to List of Tables
Table
3. Summary of Actions and Sub-actions with Projected Phase-in
Periods
| Action |
Sub-Action |
Phase
1
0 - 1.5
years |
Phase
2
1.5 - 3
years
|
Phase
3
3 - 5
years
|
| 1.
Implement a Public Awareness Strategy for NPS Pollution |
Lead
development of provincial water education program that
includes NPS |
|
|
|
| |
Coordinate
education efforts |
|
|
|
| |
Inform
local elected officials about water quality |
|
|
|
| 2.
Promote NPS Pollution Prevention through Industry Associations |
Work
with industry associations to promote NPS pollution prevention |
|
|
|
| 3.
Support Development and Implementation of Best Management
Practices |
Support
development and implementation of BMPs for major NPS
pollution sources |
|
|
|
| |
Advise
and support local government in the use of BMPs |
|
|
|
4.
Promote Water
Conservation |
Develop
and implement a
provincial strategy for water conservation |
|
|
|
5.
Incorporate Water Resource Management Objectives into
Land-Use Plans |
Incorporate
NPS pollution prevention strategies in higher level forestry
planning process |
|
|
|
| |
Support
local governments involved with regional growth strategies |
|
|
|
| |
Promote
the incorporation of NPS pollution prevention strategies
into regional growth strategies and official community
plans |
|
|
|
| |
Ensure
streamside protection measures in local planning address
NPS |
|
|
|
| |
Support
local government in protecting greenways |
|
|
|
6.
Promote NPS Pollution Prevention in Waste Management
Planning Initiatives |
Address
NPS pollution in liquid waste management plans |
|
|
|
| |
Address
NPS issues in pollution prevention plans |
|
|
|
| 7.
Lead Development of Water Management Plans or Liquid
Waste Management Plans in Critical Areas |
Develop
policy and regulations for water management areas and
plans |
|
|
|
| |
Identify
critical areas and require water management plans to
address NPS pollution |
|
|
|
| |
Develop
liquid waste management plans for critical areas |
|
|
|
| 8.
Support Government Coordination |
|
|
|
|
| 9.
Support Community-Based Waterbody Protection Initiatives |
|
|
|
|
| 10.
Evaluate Performance of NPS Pollution Actions |
Measure
success of program in terms of water quality and key
initiatives |
|
|
|
| |
Modernize
field measurement methods |
|
|
|
| |
Seek
partnerships |
|
|
|
| |
Support
community volunteer monitoring initiatives |
|
|
|
| |
Communicate
successes and challenges to stakeholders |
|
|
|
| 11.
Assess Key NPS Pollution Cases |
Focus
effort on selected pilot areas |
|
|
|
| |
Investigate
relative contribution of pollution from various sources |
|
|
|
| |
Apply
and evaluate remedial measures |
|
|
|
| |
Use
results to guide pollution prevention efforts elsewhere |
|
|
|
| 12.
Continue Reporting to the Public |
Report
to the public on water quality issues and trends |
|
|
|
| |
Issue
a BC water quality trend report in 1999 |
|
|
|
| 13.
Assess the Potential for Using Economic Incentives in
NPS Pollution Prevention |
|
|
|
|
| 14.
Implement the Water Quality Provisions of the new Fish
Protection Act and Local Government Statutes Amendment
Act |
Design
new provisions of the Fish Protection Act to minimize
NPS pollution |
|
|
|
| |
Implement
the Local Government Statutes Amendment Act to minimize
NPS pollution |
|
|
|
15.
Enhance
Agricultural Waste Management |
Continue
to improve administration of the Agricultural Waste Control
Regulation |
|
|
|
| |
Consult
stakeholders to address concerns |
|
|
|
| |
Develop
new government-wide policy for agricultural NPS pollution
management |
|
|
|
| |
Implement
new agricultural NPS pollution management policy |
|
|
|
| 16.
Enhance On-Site Sewage Management |
Harmonize
Waste Management Act and Health Act requirements |
|
|
|
| |
Strengthen
liquid waste management planning to prevent NPS pollution |
|
|
|
| |
Empower
and assist local government to develop bylaws |
|
|
|
| |
Investigate
alternative domestic sewage disposal systems |
|
|
|
17.
Enable More Effective Stormwater Management
|
Encourage
use of stormwater bylaws to prevent NPS pollution |
|
|
|
| |
Address
stormwater quality in liquid waste management plans |
|
|
|
| |
Investigate
use of stormwater utilities |
|
|
|
| |
Promote
partnerships with
all parties
|
|
|
|
| 18.
Manage Boat Sewage |
Develop
educational programs for boaters |
|
|
|
| |
Accelerate
designation of nominated waterbodies |
|
|
|
| |
Review
new nominations annually |
|
|
|
| |
Determine
necessary level of enforcement for nominated waterbodies |
|
|
|
| 19.
Address Forestry and Range NPS through the Forest Practices
Code |
Establish
water quality objectives in community watersheds |
|
|
|
| |
Support
application of the Forest Practices Code to private lands |
|
|
|
| 20.
Propose New Legislation to Fill Gaps |
Propose
new legislation to improve NPS pollution prevention |
|
|
|
Return to List of Tables
Return to the Table of Contents
Last
content update: August 3, 2001
|
|
|
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