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“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. It report directly to the Waste Management Committee,” stated Susan Rutherford.

Integrated Resource Recovery (IRR) is now part of the Metro Vancouver vision. Three examples illustrate a progression by scale – from treatment plant to neighbourhood (Southeast False Creek) to community (University of BC). IRR begins when waste is viewed as a potential resource. ”The community at UBC has embraced a bold vision to disconnect the University Endowment Lands from the Iona sewage treatment plant,” stated Dr. Don Mavinic.

“Fats, oils and grease (FOG) waste discharges from commercial establishments have significant impacts on the capacity and condition of the sanitary sewer collection system, and therefore have substantial cost implications over time. These are drivers for a mandatory source control program,” stated Garry Cooper.

The report covers the current state of water management in industrial parks and discusses the implications that inefficient water use can have on operating costs and public perceptions of environmental responsibility.

Donna Caddie (200p)
The program objective is to reduce water consumption by informing consumers of the most efficient products on the market.

“The extreme dry weather conditions experienced in 2009 raise questions and concerns about the way we have been building our communities. The focus of the series is on how to balance settlement changes and ecology,” states John Finnie.

Living Water Smart – conservation house
We drink only 3 percent of the water we use, with the rest going down the drain, down the toilet, or used to wash our cars and water our gardens.

Env Science & Eng Magazine – Jan 2010 cover (360p)
Water issues are complex and best solved collaboratively, which include using strategies and solutions that fall outside government control. While legislative reform is a foundation piece, collaboration takes place in the world of practitioners.

“Many small water systems throughout British Columbia, particularly those on a surface water source, have no effective or minimum treatment in place, and have chosen to remain on a boil order, often for many years,” wrote Denny Ross-Smith. “I would urge all small systems in this position to begin planning now to take the steps necessary to comply with the Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation.”

“Our Final Report is the culmination of several thousand hours of volunteer time and effort. The heart of the report is the three-page table titled A Recommended Policy Framework for Liquid Resource Management in Metro Vancouver. It is reader-friendly, and is complete with on-the-ground examples,” stated Reference Panel Chair Kim Stephens.