Sustainable Rainwater Management: Partnership releases agenda for Capital Region Workshop on Water Balance Model Express

Note to Reader:

In 2012, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia brought together four regional districts on Vancouver Island to align their efforts and implement a ‘proof of approach’ for an Inter-Regional Education Initiative (IREI). These four regions represent 90% of the Vancouver Island population.

To demonstrate how to make inter-regional collaboration tangible, each region undertook to host a “sharing and learning” event. Thus, the Capital Regional District has organized the third in the 2012-2013 Series of “Water Balance Model Training Workshops” on November 29.

To download the Agenda, click here. To register, visit the Civic Info website: Registration

Sustainable Rainwater Management: Mimic the Water Balance!

A decade ago, looking at rainfall differently led the Province of BC to develop the Water Balance Methodology, and initiate a paradigm-shift in the way rainwater is managed. The Province:

• Formalized the performance target methodology in Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia, a provincial guidance document released in 2002.
• Translated science-based understanding so that local governments could establish achievable and affordable performance targets for rainfall capture and runoff control.

“BC was the first provincial or state government in North America to implement the Water Balance Methodology. The Water Balance Model (WBM) was developed as an extension of the Guidebook. The Water Balance Model is a decision support tool. It bridges engineering and planning; and it enables scenario comparisons to evaluate the hydrologic effectiveness of green infrastructure practices and choices,” explains Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director, and the Team Leader for WBM outreach and training.

Two-Part Structure for an Interactive Knowledge-Sharing and Training Session

“The workshop is tailored to meet the information needs of a continuum of local government staff – from general manager to technician.  The curriculum is designed to provide everyone with a common understanding of the WHY, WHAT and HOW of rainwater management in a watershed sustainability context,” continues Kim Stephens.

“The workshop is structured in two parts so that it will address a range of learning needs. In the morning, we will share, inform and educate. The curriculum focus is on what everyone in local government should know about the Water Balance, what happens when it is short-circuited, and what we can do to protect and restore the Water Balance.”

“In addition to presenting a storyline that weaves history, science, technology and regulatory context, we will also do demonstration applications of the WBM in the morning segment. These will provide the group with an appreciation of the speed and power of this tool in generating useful answers in minutes rather than in hours or days.”

“In the afternoon, the group will be hands-on. We will lead everyone step-by-step through a case study application of the WBM Express for Landowners at the SITE scale. The afternoon focus is on the interaction that takes place at the local government front counter when a land or home owner has a development or building application. This interaction creates an opportunity to influence behaviour.”

To Learn More:

To download a copy of the Agenda, click either on the image below or on this link to 2012 Capital Region Water Balance Model Training Workshop. This flyer provides regulatory context and elaborates on the two-part structure.

To register, visit the Civic Info website: Registration