Convening for Action in British Columbia

“Get Your Mind Into the Gutter”: Partnership releases program overview for 2013 Rainwater Harvesting Workshop

Note to Reader:

The common perception is that British Columbia has an abundance of water…but does it? We are often water-short when demand is greatest. And now our climate is changing. What are the implications and opportunities for rainwater harvesting as a source of water for potable and non-potable uses?

On December 3, 2013 the Partnership for Water Sustainability and the Irrigation Industry Association are joining forces to co-host a workshop that will explore regulatory requirements, water balance benefits and practical applications of rainwater harvesting design and operation.

Embracing Rainwater Harvesting: Program Overview

“We have structured the workshop program as four modules,” explains Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director and Workshop Moderator. “The modules are cascading. First, we will set the big picture, with an emphasis on changes to the BC Plumbing Code that support Living Water Smart goals. Then we will highlight incentives to utilize rainwater as a resource. After that, we will delve into the practical details of implementing rainwater harvesting. We will conclude with a town-hall segment on greatest challenges.”

Town-Hall Sharing and Learning

“We will be encouraging audience interaction. In addition to the concluding town-hall module, the first two modules will each include a 30-minute Town-Hall Sharing & Learning segment,” continues Kim Stephens.

“For Modules A and B, our vision is that a set of panel presentations will focus on key messages in order to stimulate the group discussion. Our objective is to encourage interaction between the panel and the audience. We will pose the question ‘What Do You Wonder?” to engage participants. We believe the opportunity to interact and be spontaneous is what will provide them with the most value.”

Each Module Has An Educational Objective

“The Partnership for Water Sustainability is responsible for delivering the Water Sustainability Action Plan for BC,’ explains Kim Stephens. “The Partnership mantra is: we develop tools; we develop talent; we focus on outcomes. The workshop is an initiative under the Actiom Plan umbrella. Because we have an educational responsibility, we have identified a ‘learning objective’ for each module.”

“For example, the educational objective for Module A on Living Water Smart is that participants will be informed about the regulatory context in BC and the opportunity to move from ‘awareness to action’ to capture and utilize rainwater where it falls.”