Non-Point Source Water Pollution in British Columbia home page

Water Quality

Non-Point Source Water Pollution in British Columbia

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Introduction

Although British Columbia's water quality is generally good, people are increasingly aware that the province is experiencing localized water quality pollution. Every year there are reports of public beach closures, contaminated sediments, algal blooms, aquatic weed infestations, fish kills, shellfish harvesting closures, boil-water advisories, outbreaks of waterborne illnesses, and contaminated ground water. British Columbia's efforts to protect water quality by regulating "end-of-pipe" point discharges from industrial and municipal outfalls have been generally successful, and it is now recognized that the major remaining cause of water pollution is from non-point sources, which pose significant and growing threats to our water resources. Non-point source (NPS) water pollution is subtle and gradual, caused by the release of

pollution is subtle and gradual, caused by the release of pollutants from many different and diffuse sources, largely unregulated, and associated with urbanization, agriculture, and other forms of land development.

Given the dramatic population growth predicted for BC, we must act now in a determined way to deal with this pollution, otherwise we can anticipate a continuing, gradual decline in the quality of our waters. This decline will lead to significant future economic impacts and reduced benefits from our water resources. The quantity of pollutants originating from any one source - such as a home, business, or farm - may be very small. Nevertheless, the effects of hundreds or thousands of small sources within a watershed can add up to create water pollution.

The water pollution and costs from these non-point sources are significant and can include fish kills, health concerns, degraded drinking water, diminished water-based recreation and tourism opportunities, economic losses to commercial fishing and aquaculture industries and First Nations food harvesting areas, lowered real estate values, damage to habitat of fish and other aquatic organisms, the inevitable costs of clean-up and pollution reduction, and reduced aesthetic values of lakes, streams, and coastal areas.

Non-point source water pollution is difficult to manage using conventional regulatory approaches because it is hard to identify and control the many sources of pollution over a large area. The key to addressing this problem is prevention through planning and coordination, education, and source control. Wide-scale participation in the prevention of NPS pollution is necessary because the actions of so many individuals creates the problem.

The ministry has compiled the material at this site as an information resource for those working to manage and prevent non-point source water pollution. This information targets a wide audience including individual homeowners, farmers, ranchers, business operators and local and regional government agencies. Students and teachers may also find this a useful resource. It includes publications on NPS water pollution, management tools like best management practices
and examples of what is being done around BC and elsewhere.