Water Stewardship

Ground Water Component for the State of the Environment Report, Province of British Columbia, August 1992

Ground Water Quantity and Quality Issues in British Columbia

Ground Water Quantity:

1. Uncontrolled extraction resulting in excessive well interference and or quality degradation (e.g., Surrey, Vancouver Island).
   
   
2. Ground water / surface water conflicts where surface water is fully allocated and ground water extraction is uncontrolled (e.g., Cherry Creek/Kamloops, Chimney Creek/Williams Lake, Kalamalka Lake).
   
   
3. Uncontrolled flowing artesian wells resulting in wastage of water and lowering of water levels (e.g., Surrey, Saanich).

Ground Water Quality:

1. Contamination with nitrates from intense agricultural activities and disposal of domestic sewage effluent (e.g., Langley/Abbotsford, Grandforks, Osoyoos).
   
   
2. Contamination with pesticides (e.g., Abbotsford).
   
   
3. Salt water intrusion (e.g., Gulf Islands, Saanich).
   
   
4. Contamination from point sources such as landfills, chemical spills, industrial activities.
   
   
5. Quality degradation due to poor well construction practices and improper well abandonment practices.