Partnering for water conservation in Williams Lake
Posted June 2006
In last year’s Water Conservation Plan, the City of Williams Lake committed itself to following a three-step program for water conservation. These steps are:
- stopping the leaks,
- informing the public, and
- tightening the taps.
Stopping the Leaks/Tightening the Taps
Stopping the leaks and tightening the taps start with the city, with public support. The city has been working hard to ensure the water pumped from the aquifer goes directly to the community’s homes. Starting this year, they are implementing a leak-detection program that will carefully survey the 109 kilometres of underground pipe to determine where they can patch up holes in their distribution system. They have also been working to “practice what we preach” by implementing water conservation practices in city services and buildings where possible.
Information the Public
The next step is to let citizens know what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how the public can help. The city will be entering into a partnership with the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS) to do just that, through the new WaterWise conservation program.
The objectives of the program are to educate Williams Lake and area residents about water conservation and what must be done to maintain a sustainable water supply. It is hoped that through education, the public will understand the need to reduce water use, thereby lessening the stress on their aquifer and ultimately achieving a sustainable, healthy community.
The CCCS, through the WaterWise program, will partner with the city to help raise public awareness through public events, water conservation literature, and other educational tools. The program will be aimed at various segments of the population, including school children, business people, seniors, gardeners, local homeowners, and industry representatives. Using the popular Salmonids in the Classroom program as the base for school programs, the CCCS and the city will work to educate the public on the link between conservation management and the protection of environmental watersheds and various species dependent on a healthy and sustainable water resource.
For further information, please contact the City of Williams Lake, and the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society.