Association Papers
The Water Supply Association of BC provides a voice to water suppliers in the southern interior of the province in matters dealing with government policy and regulation. Selected reports and position papers from the WSABC are included in this section.
Improving the Water-Utility Customer Relationship Workshop Oct 2023
- April 24, 2024At our Annual General Meeting in Nelson in October of 2023, the WSA conducted a very worthwhile workshop on Improving the Water Utility – Customer Relationship. Please view the summary paper here.
Feedback on Watershed Security Strategy Discussion Paper
- October 4, 2022In early 2022 the Province of BC requested feedback on their Watershed Security Strategy. The WSABC contributed a discussion paper that lays out our association’s current priorities relating to the Province’s identified outcomes.
Feedback on Proposed Changes to Improve the Forest Range Practices Act
- December 27, 2020Meeting with Auditor General – Discussion Paper on Water Issues
- May 5, 2018During the 1999 preparation of the Auditor General’s report on the Protection of Drinking Water in BC, the Water Supply Association had the opportunity to provide input into the process. Since then, although several positive changes in BC’s legislation have increased the protection of drinking water, there are still areas that require improvement. The directors met with the Auditor General in May 2018 and outlined some of the key issues from the perspective of water purveyors, along with recommendations.
Response to the Natural Resource Roads Act Discussion Paper
- December 12, 2012This letter is in response to the Discussion Paper issued by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations regarding the proposed Natural Resource Road Act (NRRA). While the proposed NRRA has potential benefits to water suppliers with Community Watersheds, the Association believes the proposed Act should make specific consideration for protection of drinking water sources.
B.C. Water Act Modernization Submission
- April 4, 2010This brief provides the collective summary of comments received by the Directors and members of the WSABC regarding the modernization of the Water Act. The WSABC represents water suppliers throughout the BC Southern Interior that provide irrigation and drinking water to thousands of acres of agriculture and over 200,00 people.
WSABC Brief to the Minister of Culture Tourism and the Arts
- January 8, 2010January, 2010. This brief regarding Motorized Trail Development Strategies for Community Watersheds was presented to Minister Krueger January 22, 2010 in West Kelowna. The brief provides specific recommendations to resolve conflict between trail riders and water suppliers in the Lambly (Bear) Creek Watershed and provides a general template for sustainable trail development within sensitive community watersheds.
WSABC position statement on crown leases
- January 5, 2009In May of 2002 Land and Water British Columbia (LAWBC) announced a proposal to offer for sale approximately 155 recreational and commercial crown leases located throughout the highlands surrounding the Okanagan Valley. The majority of these leases are located next to relatively low volume drinking water reservoirs. The WSABC is opposed to the sale of these lands and in June of 2002 issued a position paper providing the rationale for this opposition (see below). With the crown lease sales issue still unresolved in 2009 the Association updated that position paper. In the fall of 2010 the Province announced they were no longer planning the sale of these lots.
WSABC and IH Discussion Paper: A Common Approach to Drinking Water Improvements in the Okanagan Valley
- October 15, 2007The Water Supply Association and the Interior Health Authority have collaborated on a discussion paper entitled A Common Approach to Drinking Water Improvements for the Okanagan Region. This paper provides historical context for Okanagan Water Systems and outlines a common approach for Water Suppliers and Interior Health towards drinking water improvements in the Okanagan Region.
WSABC proposal to amend the Turbidity Notification Program
- February 1, 2007The Water Supply Association submitted this proposal to IHA to amend the Turbidity Notification Program to make it more effective in protecting public health. The proposal was submitted to encourage discussion on how to better protect public health and to educate the public regarding the risks inherent in surface water supplies and identify the immune compromised population who are more vulnerable to these risks.
WSABC Brief to the Minister of Health
- July 12, 2006The Water Supply Association of BC has serious concerns about the effectiveness of the Turbidity Notification Program recently introduced by the Interior Health Authority. On June 6, 2006 representatives from the association met with the Minister of Health, George Abbott, to express these concerns. The WSA prepared this brief for the Minister.
WSABC update brief to the Minister of Health
- July 1, 2006The Water Supply Association of BC has doubts about the effectiveness of the Turbidity Notification Program recently introduced by the Interior Health Authority. On June 6, 2006 representatives from the association met with the Minister of Health, George Abbott, to express these concerns. On July 26, 2006, WSA directors met once again with the Minister and provided an update to the June 6, 2006 meeting. The WSA prepared this update for the Minister.
WSABC comment on Okanagan Partnership Water Management Discussion Paper
- February 2, 2005The Okanagan Partnership issued a discussion paper on water management in the Okanagan Valley in October of 2004. The WSABC was asked by the Okanagan Basin Water Board to comment on the discussion paper and did so in the attached document. A copy of the Okanagan Partnership discussion paper can be found on this web site under External Reports, or by following this link: Okanagan Partnership: Okanagan Water Management.
WSABC review of the Okanagan Reservoir Lakes Project Report
- February 5, 2004The Okanagan Reservoir Lakes Project was a study commissioned by Land and Water B.C. to look at the potential impact on drinking water quality of the sale of 141 crown foreshore leases on 16 drinking reservoir lakes in the Okanagan highlands. This review of the report provides a critical review of the report and its findings. To view a copy of the report follow this link: Okanagan Reservoir Lake Project.
Crown lease sales threaten source water quality
- February 2, 2003This article appeared in the February issue of FresH2Outlook, a regional water industry magazine. The article reviews Land and Water B.C.’s proposal to sell crown leases on drinking water reservoirs throughout the highlands surrounding the Okanagan Valley.
WSABC Position Paper on Crown Lease Sales
- June 6, 2002In May of 2002 Land and Water British Columbia (LAWBC) announced a proposal to offer for sale approximately 155 recreational and commercial crown leases located throughout the highlands surrounding the Okanagan Valley. The majority of these leases are located next to relatively low volume drinking water reservoirs. The WSABC is opposed to the sale of these lands and this position paper provides the rationale for this opposition.
Proposed Drinking Water Protection Act: WSABC Policy Paper
- December 12, 2001This policy paper was prepared by the WSABC Board of Directors and provided to the Drinking Water Review Panel for consideration of their review of the proposed Drinking Water Protection Act (DWPA). The DWPA was amended and brought into force by the Drinking Water Protection Regulation in May of 2003. The amended act and regulation still have considerable room for improvement and the WSABC continues to provide comment on this issue