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Click on “Read Article” first. Then click on links to access these versions of the Express: North Vancouver, Cowichan Region, Surrey, Coquitlam and Comox Valley in BC; and Membertou in Cape Breton.

In 2002, looking at rainfall differently led the Province of British Columbia to adopt the Water Balance Methodology. This resulted in development of the Water Balance Model. “The series was selected from 75 submissions made by conservation authorities and non-governmental organizations from across the country. It met the project’s mandate to showcase viable and cost-effective adaptation solutions that ultimately will be replicated in communities across the country,” stated Dr. Blair Feltmate.

“When our long term collaborator at the District of North Vancouver, Richard Boase, informed us of some of the new tools available to support rainwater management and planning in the District, I immediately knew I wanted to incorporate them into an assignment for the Urban Watershed Management course,” states Julie Wilson. “The students appreciated the power and utility of these kinds of tools to engage with the public on issues of development and rainwater management.”

“The purpose of this short-form document is to provide local government staff and others with a ‘what you need to know’ overview of the Water Balance Methodology. The desired outcome is that this will facilitate informed decision-making that results in development and implementation of affordable and effective performance targets,” explains Richard Boase.

“So, why collaboration? Here are the key words – affordable and effective. This is what it is all about. Money is not unlimited,” emphasized Kim Stephens. “So what is the goal of collaboration? We are talking about standards of practice, whether those practices be engineering or planning. They have to be affordable and effective. Where we are trying to get to is a healthy watershed with healthy streams.”

“The CVRD has been a regional case study for the development of the Water Balance Model Express. This tool has resulted in an enhanced capability of the CVRD to maintain its leadership in the areas of watershed management and the development of technical and community based responses to emerging issues which are appropriate for our regional context,” wrote Kate Miller.

“Metro Vancouver contributed $50,000 to fund further enhancement of the Water Balance Model because widespread use of this decision tool will help Metro Vancouver and members fulfil our regulatory commitments, in particular those related to integrated rainwater management,” stated Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board.

“The CVRD is currently undergoing an Official Community Plan update and it is timely to include updated policy statements regarding rainwater management. A full rainwater management strategy is a multi-year process that can be started now with implementation of several short term objectives aimed at further improving rainwater management in the electoral areas,” wrote Kevin Lorettte.

“The CVRD wants to ensure that our region’s watersheds continue to function effectively so that both our communities, the environment and fisheries get the right amount of water at the right time,” states Kate Miller. “The WBM Express allows us to implement specific targets for each of our communities’ watersheds so that the homeowner simply has to select their appropriate watershed and concentrate on their property’s function.”

“Breakthroughs in science-based understanding occurred in the mid-1990s. Yet engineering practice generally did not incorporate this understanding. The Water Balance Methodology has addressed this historical oversight and is being enhanced over time to incorporate fresh insights,” states Jim Dumont.