About Us
Sustainable approaches to integrated Water Management
Increasing population growth and economic development over the past 20 years has resulted in an increased demand for water. As a result of this growth, close to 1/5th of BC’s surface water sources have reached, or are nearing, capacity to reliably supply water for extractive uses. This increasing demand also places additional pressures on water quality, water levels and aquatic ecosystems.
Why was our Partnership formed?
The Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC (PWSBC) was incorporated as a not-for-profit society in 2010 to promote and advance the protection and management of natural and engineered water resources in British Columbia.
We believe that by providing education, research, technical services and tools, we can help communities both reduce the increased demand for water and protect stream health from the adverse consequences of land development practices.
We are working with practitioners involved in water resources functions to foster integrated protection and management strategies through enhancement of practitioner expertise (i.e. “developing talent”), and through further evolution and delivery of program elements developed under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia.
What is our vision?
The vision of the Partnership is that water sustainability will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices. How communities in BC get there relies on a change in mind-set.
What is our mission?
The Partnership mission is to facilitate that change with a focus on community and regional land planning, to promote strategies that integrate decisions about land use and conservation with water sustainability outcomes.
Learn More About the Partnership for Water Sustainability
Featured Articles
"Now that the new Societies Act (2016) has provided the Partnership with clarity regarding our identify, it allows the Board of Directors to focus on the Partnership mission," stated Derek Richmond, Partnership Secretary
"The Partnership’s Constitution is now aligned with the new Societies Act. 2018 was our first full year operating under the new act," stated Derek Richmond. "Changes in municipal staffing and recent municipal elections have enabled us to renew and strengthen old relationships and also develop new relationships. This re-enforces ...more
INFLUENCING CHANGE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: "In effect we are being challenged to re-assess our thinking regarding how we practice water management in the 21st century," stated Eric Bonham when commenting on the legacy of the Partnership for Water Sustainability
"Future planners, engineers, scientists, politicians and citizens alike will be called upon to demonstrate both vision and pragmatism, working as a team towards consensus, commitment and collaboration for the common good. Such collaboration is essential and must cross all political and community boundaries given that climate change is no ...more
BECOME AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER
“The Directors concluded that it would be in the best long-term interests of the Partnership to make membership simple to administrate. Any individual with an interest in green infrastructure and/or water sustainability can become an associate member of the Partnership. All that individuals need do is go to ‘waterbucket.ca’ and follow ...more