Drivers to Live Water Smart in British Columbia
In January 2010, the British Columbia Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) hosted a continuing education workshop to advance Living Water Smart, BC's Water Plan.
Category:
articles for period 2008 thru 2010
CASE STUDY FOR LIVING WATER SMART: Demonstrating a Regional Team Approach in the Comox Valley – theme for 2009 Learning Lunch Seminar Series was “Getting Ahead of the Wave”, hosted by Comox Valley Regional District
A convergence of interests has created an opportunity for all the players to set their sights on the common good, challenge the old barriers of jurisdictional interests, and make water sustainability real. “The Series theme, Getting Ahead of the Wave, defined what we wished to accomplished in building on the foundation provided by the 2008 Series. We view the 2009 Series as our springboard to advance integration of current Comox Valley regional initiatives in 2010,” stated Kevin Lorette.
Living Water Smart: Context for moving from ‘boundaries’ to ‘commonalities’ in the Comox Valley
“To be successful, we need to work outside our normal boundaries; and we need to proactively communicate and work with others. We need to think globally and act locally. Man imposes his own boundaries. So, we have an issue of inconsistencies … or incongruities … between natural and imposed boundaries which sets up a series of problems. Our challenge is to work around and with boundaries. We would like to shift the paradigm from boundaries to areas of commonality,” stated Derek Richmond.
Real Estate Foundation aligns efforts with Province to foster ‘green value’ development
Living Water Smart contains a key message – green development makes sense. Fostering new thinking about development leads to more green spaces, more water and fish in the streams, improved community vitality, reduced demand for water, and reduced expenditure on infrastructure. “The program goals for Living Water Smart and the companion Green Communities Initiative constitute a ‘call to action’ on the part of British Columbians to manage settlement change in balance with ecology,” stated Tim Pringle.
LIVING WATER SMART: Shared Responsibility Underpins a Regional Team Approach to Creating Our Future in British Columbia – “By choosing to live water smart, communities will be more prepared for climate change and their quality of life will be enhanced. If we can show how to get the water part right, then other parts are more likely to follow,” stated Lynn Kriwoken (2009)
“At the end of the day, planners and engineers and other disciplines must come together to determine the issues and solutions,” stated Lynn Kriwoken. “This is why we constantly emphasize that Living Water Smart is about motivating and inspiring everyone to embrace shared responsibility. Influencing behaviour and attitudes is at the heart of moving from awareness to action.”
Living Water Smart launched blog to connect those interested in BC’s water future (December 2009)
“A key commitment in the plan is to modernize our water laws to improve the protection of ecological values, provide for more community involvement, and provide incentives to be water efficient. We will be using a new Living Water Smart Blog to encourage water stewardship in BC, share the ideas and stories of those who are interested in BC’s water future, and celebrate our water smart successes. The Blog will also be used to support dialogue on modernizing the Water Act and will complement a public discussion paper and a series of regional meetings to be announced early in 2010,” stated John Slater.
Living Water Smart website launches “Your Stories” section to celebrate the great things British Columbians are doing (January 2010)
Stories are pouring in from Water Smart people across British Columbia. The “Your Stories” section is about those who are working hard for water sustainability.
Living Water Smart commitments frame learning outcomes for Comox Valley Learning Lunch Program – “Fifty percent of new municipal water needs will be acquired through conservation by 2020” (p 75 Living Water Smart)
Circumstances have provided the Comox Valley with the opportunity to embrace a ‘closed loop’ approach to water resource management. This is a catalyst for doing business differently going forward. “Low flow conditions in the Comox Lake system have provided a reality-check in terms of how water is managed. The drinking water allocation is fully utilized by the existing population. This is a catalyst for doing business differently going forward,” stated Marc Rutten.
ALIGNMENT WITH LIVING WATER SMART VISION IN THE COMOX VALLEY: “Living Water Smart is a plan that is as much about land as water….because only with healthy water can we enjoy all the values that we take for granted,” stated Lynn Kriwoken (October 2009)
Living Water Smart presents the vision, and the Green Communities Initiative provides enabling tools to achieve the vision. Together they represent a call to action. Together they provide the provincial context for a regional team approach. “Living Water Smart is about adaptation – that is, collectively what we need to do…to adapt…to prepare for climate change. How we will get there is all about collaboration – that’s my code for silo jumping,” stated Lynn Kriwoken.
BRITISH COLUMBIA’S CALL TO ACTION: “New thinking about development leads to new benefits that include more green spaces, more water and fish in the streams, improved community vitality, reduced demand for water, and reduced expenditure on infrastructure,” stated Kim Stephens in his presentation on Living Water Smart and Building Greener Communities at a regional event held in Kamloops (September 2009)
“Living Water Smart, BC’s Water Plan and the Green Communities Initiative must be viewed as an integrated package. Living Water Smart presents the vision, and the Green Communities Initiative provides enabling tools to achieve the vision. Together they represent a call to action.A key message in Living Water Smart is that green development makes sense ” stated Kim Stephens.