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“Metro Vancouver Reference Panel recommends establishing a ‘stewarding committee’ to ensure Liquid Resource Management Plan stays true to the vision. There is a need for fresh, objective eyes bolstered by a strong political mandate to keep asking questions, prod Metro Vancouver and members toward the vision, and assist with the waste-to-resource paradigm-shift over time. A ‘stewarding committee’ would play an expert and non-partisan role,” stated Susan Rutherford.

“The policy framework proposed by the Reference Panel is founded on the premise that the Metro Vancouver region will manage sewage and rainwater as resources, not wastes; and will strive to achieve Integrated Resource Recovery progess incrementally,” stated Elaine Golds.

Commencing in 2007, Vancouver Island has been the pilot region for a regional team approach that seeks to align local actions with provincial goals. “Experience gained in one region is being adapted to suit the needs of the other regions. Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island are learning from each other, and are moving in the same direction,” stated John Finnie.

“Strategies and actions in ISMPs will impact on Metro Vancouver’s sustainability for generations to come. Hence, it is important to link those actions to a picture of a desired outcome,” stated Kim Stephens. “One has to start with the desired outcome – which is protect or improve stream health – and then determine what actions in the watershed will green the urban landscape. Re-focus ISMPs on watershed targets and outcomes so that there are clear linkages with land use planning.”

The focus of the Lulu plant tour was on the pilot nutrient recovery technology developed by Dr. Don Mavinic of the University of British Columbia. “To demonstrate the potential for sustainable wastewater treatment solutions, researchers at UBC have developed the technology to capture phosphorus and ammonia from high concentration streams of municipal sewage, and recycle them into environmentally safe fertilizer,” stated Dr. Don Mavinic.

By aligning Metro Vancouver's Liquid Waste (Resource) Plan with the Province's Living Water Smart initiative, this opens the door to encouraging ‘green choices’ will ripple through time and will be cumulative in creating liveable communities and protecting stream health. “This will ensure that Metro Vancouver’s and senior governments’ environmental and fiscal objectives and actions are mutually supportive and successful,” stated Lois Jackson, Chair.

The neighbourhood plan for the northeast area of the South Campus is for a sustainable community. “These projects provided the Reference Panel with insights regarding what can be achieved by implementing water-centric green infrastructure at three scales: site, street and neighbourhood,” stated UBC’s David Grigg.

“It is the view of the Metro Vancouver Reference Panel that the effective implementation of the Canada-wide Strategy not only creates an obligation on the part of the senior governments to step up to the plate and fulfill their social and environmental responsibilities, it also creates an obligation to support communities that believe it is imperative to improve sewage treatment as soon as possible,” stated Christianne Wilhelmson.

“Embracing a guiding framework will help ensure a flexible and adaptable approach to regional sewage treatment that strives for continuous improvement over time,” stated Simon Poole.

“The desired outcome can be achieved by managing sewage and rainwater as resources, not waste. The Liquid Waste Management Plan is a powerful regulatory tool because it enables Metro Vancouver municipalities to integrate community design with desired outcomes at a regional scale and individual actions at a site scale,” stated Susan Rutherford.