WBM Express: Partnership updated Metro Vancouver Regional Engineers Advisory Committee in June 2013
Regulatory Requirements Drive Need for WBM Express in Metro Vancouver
In October 2011, support from the Metro Vancouver Regional Engineers Advisory Committeee (REAC) enabled the Partnership for Water Sustainability to develop two web-based tools for use by Metro Vancouver member municipalities: Drainage Infrastructure Screening Tool (2012); Water Balance Model Express for Landowners (2013).
Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director, met with REAC in June 2013 to provide the municipalities with a status report on implementation progress.
Mimic the Natural Water Balance
“Your recommendation of support for the Water Balance Model Express in October 2011 was key to the decision weeks later by the Metro Vancouver Board to contribute $50,000 in co-funding to this initiative. In turn, that triggered matching funding from the Federal-Provincial Climate Change Program. The Partnership appreciated your vote of 
confidence and thanks you for your support,” Kim Stephens told REAC.
“The WBM Express will enable Metro Vancouver member municipalities to more easily deliver on regulatory requirements pursuant to the region’s Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management Plan. This regulatory document spells out specific actions for on-site rainwater management to protect or restore watershed health.”
“Protecting watershed health starts with an understanding of why it is essential to mimic the Natural Water Balance. The innovation of the WBM Express is the calculator that integrates three watershed-specific targets for replicating the flow paths of water in the watershed, and the flow in streams. Targets are pre-set by the partner municipality based on a watershed-scale assessment.”
To Learn More:
To read the complete story posted on the Convening for Action community-of-interest, click on “Collaborative initiatives will help municipalities better deliver on regulatory compliance,” Kim Stephens informs Metro Vancouver Regional Engineers Advisory Committee.
To download a PDF version of the slideshow that provided the backdrop for the presentation by Kim Stephens, click on Rainwater Management in a Watershed Sustainability Context.
For the story of the expedited process that resulted in Metro Vancouver co-funding the WBM Express, click on “Partnership for Water Sustainability appreciates prompt action by Metro Vancouver Regional Board to fund WBM Express,” says Tim Pringle
