Water Stewardship

Water Use Efficiency Catalogue for British Columbia

Planning Tools

B. 'Soft' Conservation Measures

I. Federal and Provincial Initiatives

1. Planning Tools

"Soft" conservation measures are less harsh or onerous than hard measures. Their approach to water use efficiency reflects more negotiation, conciliation, voluntarism and teaching. Soft measures include planning tools, voluntary restrictions, educational and information sharing initiatives (targetting residential, commercial/industrial and school audiences), government "lead by example" initiatives, and partnership and cooperation initiatives.

"Planning Tools" presented in this, and the following section includes: the national action plan, municipal, local or regional land-use planning, watershed management planning, and strategic (utility) planning.

Federal Government

National Action Plan

  • In mid-1994, The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) formed a national task force to develop a National Action Plan to encourage Municipal Water Use Efficiency. The B.C. Provincial Committee of the National Task Force, formed in fall 1994, merged with the BCWWA Water Use Efficiency Committee in fall 1995.

  • In the rest of Canada, the Canadian Water & Waste Association (CWWA) is taking a lead role in promoting implementation of the National Action Plan. In British Columbia, BCWWA has taken on a stewardship responsibility to facilitate development and implementation of Provincial Water Conservation Policy. The B.C. Provincial Water Conservation Working Group appointed was appointed in July, 1997 to develop a Strategy Document. A merger of this Working Group with the BCWWA Committee is proposed for 1998.

Planning Initiatives

  • Water Efficiency Planning for Municipalities

    Fraser River Action Plan (FRAP) resources were contributed towards the general area of water efficiency planning for municipalities. Efforts in this regard were partnered with the B.C. Water and Waste Association over three years. The focus of the effort was on three annual mini-conferences promoting the theme of water use efficiency and providing detailed practical information and expertise for communities to develop their own plans. Only one of these conferences took place in the Fraser Basin (Kamloops, 1996) and received FRAP funds. Environment Canada was able to assist and fund the other conferences, (Rossland, 1995 and Nanaimo, 1997) through other programs.

  • New Planning Initiatives

    The BCWWA and FRAP staff are continuing their efforts to promote water conservation in B.C. with some major new planning initiatives. The first of these is development of a partnership agreement for implementation of efficient water use by municipalities, water suppliers and major users. Voluntary sign on to the agreement will provide the parties with pooled research, access to best management practices for water use and better access to common expertise and information sources. The second initiative is development of a provincial strategy for water conservation, guided by the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Ministry of Environment). FRAP staff have been invited to participate in this process, which will feed into eventual revision of the B.C. Water Act as well as provide direction to efforts by provincial government departments.
Water Use Efficiency Committee

3-Year Action Plan

  • An Action Plan was developed for implementation over a 3-year period to facilitate a Province-wide Partnership Agreement regarding municipal water-use efficiency. This plan also involves a three year plan of annual conferences. The 3-Year Action Plan and accompanying themes are outlined below.

      Year 1 - establish a Partnership Committee, develop Terms of Reference, organize Conference #1

      Year 2 - obtain funding, prepare Draft Agreement, organize Conference #2

      Year 3 - undertake Stakeholder Consultation, implement Partnership Agreement, organize Conference #3


II. Regional and Municipal Initiatives

1. Planning Tools

"Soft" conservation measures are less harsh or onerous than hard measures. Their approach to water use efficiency reflects more negotiation, conciliation, voluntarism and teaching. Soft measures include planning tools, voluntary restrictions, educational and information sharing initiatives (targetting residential, commercial/industrial and school audiences), government "lead by example" initiatives, and partnership and cooperation initiatives.

"Planning Tools" presented in this, and the preceding section includes: the national action plan, municipal, local or regional land-use planning, watershed management planning, and strategic (utility) planning.

Capital Regional District — Water Department

Strategic Planning for Utility

  • Costs: $600,000

Local or Regional Watershed Management Planning

  • Costs: $125,000
Chilliwack, District of


Strategic Planning for Utility

  • The District of Chilliwack constantly reviews its long-term plans and has an Official Community Plan in place. The District currently has a Council appointed Civic Group that is developing a "Future Plan" for the District.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District

Local or Regional Land-use Planning

  • implemented in 1997, cover two utilities
Greater Vancouver Regional District — Water District

Strategic Planning for Utility

  • A Long Range Water Conservation Plan is currently being prepared, including a thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits of various DSM options.

  • The Water District recently completed (1997) a "Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Study and Water Supply Plan", which identifies and summarises the programs and facilities - including demand side management -- that are needed to ensure a reliable supply of high quality water for all areas served by the GVWD through the year 2041.

  • Further to a recommendation in the Water Supply Plan described above, the region's baseline long term water demand forecast has been revised to better reflect the impact of water conservation measures; the revised forecast is currently being reviewed by the District's member municipalities.

Highlands, District of

Local or Regional Watershed Management Planning

  • The District is involved in Integrated Watershed Management Planning initiatives with the Capital Regional District (CRD). In 1996/97 a preliminary study and report was prepared by the CRD for the Millstream watershed. This process involved the CRD, District of Langford, Town of View Royal, City of Colwood and District of Highlands. The CRD has just started working on an Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the Craigflower Creek Watershed. Watershed inventory reports have been completed for the Millstream, Craigflower and Pease Creek watersheds effectively covering all watersheds within municipal boundaries.

  • Keys to Success: political buy-in

  • Constraints: staff time
Keremeos, Village of

Strategic Planning for Utility

  • Costs: $2,000

Local or Regional Land-use Planning

  • Costs: $28,000

Local or Regional Watershed Management Planning

  • Costs: $2,000
Port Alberni, City of

Local or Regional Watershed Management Planning

  • Watershed protection consists of public restrictions to certain areas by installation of gates, monitoring of industrial activities (e.g. logging, mining) with respect to water quality impacts, and water quality monitoring.
Sunshine Coast Regional District

Strategic Planning Utility

  • A ten year Water Works Plan for the SCRD, updated every five years

Local or Regional Watershed Management Planning

  • Development of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the SCRD's main sources of water, Chapman Creek and Gray Creek
Ucluelet, District of


Local or Regional Land-use Planning

  • Costs: $3,000

Vanderhoof, District of

Strategic Planning for Utility

  • Potential Water Savings: 1,000 m3/d