Comments Off on WATERUCKET.CA, STORYTELLING PLATFORM FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH TO LAND AND WATER USE: “In 2004. a consortium of provincial and regional organizations and federal agencies came together to form a partnership and fund development of waterbucket.ca,” stated Mike Tanner, founding chair of the intergovernmental partnership
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNewscelebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective and Context for Busy Reader, and the Story Behind the Story.
The edition published on April 15, 2025 featured Mike Tanner, founding chair of the Waterbucket.ca Website Partnership and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the launch of waterbucket.ca in April 2025. The combination of waterbucket.ca and the Waterbucket eNews newsletter gives champions in the local government and stewardship sectors a platform and voice for telling their stories. Below is the Story Behind the Story.
Somebody had to put up the initial seed funding for waterbucket.ca
“Mike Tanner is the waterbucket.ca visionary. His leadership got the website off the ground and online within 12 months of the inaugural meeting of founding partners. He did the heavy lifting that brought together provincial ministries and so many others for a common purpose,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
“Somebody had to put up the initial seed funding to build support for the waterbucket.ca idea. And that is what I was able to bring from BC Hydro with a $5000 contribution from the Power Smart program,” recalls Mike Tanner, former senior manager with Power Smart.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY: waterbucket.ca, Storytelling Platform for an Ecosystem-Based Approach to Land and Water Use – a conversation with Mike Tanner
“The story behind the story of my conversational interview with Mike Tanner is structured in four parts,” continues Kim Stephens. “In Part One, he explains the importance of the Project Charter as the framework document that crystallized the shared vision for waterbucket.ca as an online magazine.”
“In Part Two, Mike Tanners shares his insights as to why waterbucket.ca is a trusted source of information. His reflections in Part Three recognize three individuals who injected timely energy and passion. Part Four closes with Mike’s thoughts on how waterbucket.ca has matured as a legacy resource.”
PART ONE – waterbucket.ca partners had a vision for an online magazine and virtual community
“To prepare for this conversation, I went on a trip down memory lane and read the Project Charter that we adopted in 2004. Twenty year later, it makes for an interesting read. It is is a valuable historical document because it lays out what the waterbucket.ca partners set out to accomplish,” states Mike Tanner.
“We set out to further collective understanding, collaboration and the development and implementation of best practice.”
Context for waterbucket.ca editorial policy
“We have stayed true to those words. And over time, waterbucket.ca has exceeded expectations and become much more than what we thought it would be in 2004.”
“From day one, waterbucket.ca has been about providing information and a means of sharing the information of others, especially their success stories. That is what people are looking for, understand and value.”
“And, I am proud to state, we have never have asked for anything since the launch of the website. It is self-funded by the Partnership for the Water Sustainability as a public service. In the early years, we resisted any suggestions to commercialize it. The content is sustained by a volunteer effort.”
Just go to waterbucket.ca
“Twenty years later, it is also fascinating to read the record of the partnership forum in February 2005. This was a mere two months before we launched the website. Much of the discussion that day revolved around editorial policy to achieve what is laid out in the Project Charter.”
“Think of the website as a magazine, the record of meeting states, with the objective being to appeal to a readership slice so that we attract readers to the website. From the beginning, our target audiences were the government and stream stewardship sectors.”
“We have been true to that vision for a news magazine with the type of stories we publish. They are short, concise and allow readers to take a quick look at whether they are interested in reading further. The information we have has garnered the right people to stay on the website and delve into the stories.”
PART TWO – waterbucket.ca is a trusted source of information for a global audience
“With my marketing background at BC Hydro Power Smart, I realized the need to provide success stories. That is how you become successful in promoting a product. People are wary about trying different things. Providing them with success stories and factual information helps motivate them to implement some of the things that we talk about.”
Power of success stories to influence behaviour
“Part of my Power Smart thing is that I was successful with customers in implementing something that they did not quite understand about Power Smart. We were basically paying them to reduce using our product…electricity…which goes against every marketing concept.”
“The idea behind marketing has always been to get customers to pay to use more. And we were paying them to use less! We needed stories that would help them understand why they would be successful if they got involved with the Power Smart program and spent upfront to save money.”
“So we needed to be able to provide the story that company A did it and they achieved this energy saving. So, company B can do it too and also achieve this saving.”
waterbucket.ca content is in the public domain to provide universal access to information and resources
“We do not charge anything for people to access the Waterbucket.ca website or subscribe to the Waterbucket eNews newsletter. This goes against the principles of marketing – you provide something, you expect people to pay for it. But we do not. It is free!”
“Because we are not asking for anything, that goes to the level of trust that we have developed with our readers. We just want to provide information that people can see, understand and implement if possible.”
Michael Blackstock’s Blue Ecology is a prime example:
“That guiding philosophy has worked out well for us. With my marketing background, I needed to be sure that we would have content on there that would provide that level of trust for people to keep coming back to read our success stories and use the Partnership’s tools and resources.”
“If it is on waterbucket.ca, our readers know they can trust the story to be factual.”
PART THREE – Recognition of three individuals who injected timely passion and energy
“Fiona Crofton was part of my original website working group. She brought passion and experience to the project. She made a huge contribution in developing a proof of concept for the website. This got us started.”
“We had to first attract people to waterbucket. ca and then we had to hold their interest. That certainly is what the Waterbucket eNews newsletter does as a companion platform. The stories we publish help do that. Compelling, that is what the website and newsletter have developed into!”
Why the waterbucket.ca embraced a storytelling approach to information sharing
“Storytelling is the way we share intergenerational knowledge, experience and wisdom. We learn through stories. This is how we pass on our oral history. This is why each and every edition of Waterbucket eNews is built around a conversational interview. Those stories are also posted on the website.”
“The storytelling approach would not be what it is without Kim Stephens. His unwavering dedication and commitment over two decades has made waterbucket.ca the success that it is. I cannot imagine anyone else being able to take the baton from Joanne and fulfil that storytelling role.”
PART FOUR – Closing reflections on 20 years of success in sharing the stories of champions
“The success of waterbucket.ca has outpaced anything that I thought we would achieve. The fact that we get people from other countries looking to us for information says so much about waterbucket.ca as a destination.”
“We understand that it has something to do with our heavy use of images. Every story we post has multiple images. We strive to match words and images so that waterbuckeet.ca stories are visually compelling. It must also help that waterbucket.ca has been around for 20 years and counting.”
A living record of the “convening for action” history of Living Water Smart in British Columbia
“We profile those who do good work in the spirit of Living Water Smart. This is a big reason why waterbucket.ca has become the place where people go to look for information on water. We have the communication platform. We give the champions a voice.”
“The Partnership for Water Sustainability cannot do everything. If we can be the avenue to get the information of others out there, that is what we can do and have been doing. Our success comes from publishing our own stories plus the stories of other groups and individuals who are doing tremendous work for the common good.”
Growing the network of champions:
“Through waterbucket.ca and the Waterbucket eNews newsletter, we are getting the stories of the Living Water Smart champions out there. This validates what they are doing.”
“That is a public service that the Partnership is able to do because we have an independent communications platform. The waterbucket.ca community is about networking and collaboration. And that is what we stated in the Project Charter in 2004.”
“And they can do it through waterbucket.ca! This serves our needs but it also serves their needs as well.”
waterbucket.ca has matured into a legacy resource
“In 2004, we were thinking about where we are now. We have adapted over the past 20 years. We have changed when we have had to. We have always gone where there is interest and energy. We have done all this and that is a big part of our continuing success.”
“When people say I saw it on waterbucket.ca, that is our ultimate measure and testament of success. Hopefully that will continue to be our story for another twenty years and beyond. That will be the legacy of the Waterbucket Website Partnership founders,” concludes Mike Tanner.
Comments Off on UNTAPPED POTENTIAL FOR RAINWATER HARVESTING: “We need to elevate the role of stormwater capture across the country as part of the toolbox to help alleviate the increasing stress in our water supplies,” stated Bruk Berhanu, Ph.D., a senior researcher for the Pacific Institute
Note to Reader:
Long seen as a nuisance to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible, urban stormwater increasingly is being viewed as a resource. Although the concept of capturing and using urban stormwater has gained attention in recent years, the full promise of this approach is far from being realized.
This is the assessment of a new report released in early March by global water think tank the Pacific Institute and 2NDNATURE Software Inc., a provider of stormwater management software. Titled Untapped Potential: An Assessment of Urban Stormwater Runoff Potential in the United States, the report finds that U.S. cities, particularly those in coastal regions, could benefit in multiple ways by making greater use of stormwater.
‘Vast opportunity’: Captured stormwater could be urban boon
“Urban communities across the United States face a range of water challenges. These include intensifying impacts of flooding and drought, water scarcity risks, constraints on traditional water supplies facing peak water limits, and water pollution. Novel approaches are needed to address these challenges and improve long-term water resilience,” state the report authors.
Why capture rain where it falls
“Stormwater capture offers a promising tool. It can help close the gap between water supply and demand by augmenting and diversifying water supplies. It can also mitigate impacts on communities from intensifying flooding and drought and reduce water pollution.”
“Stormwater capture also offers additional co-benefits, including greening communities and cooling urbanized areas. However, greater uptake of stormwater capture is hindered by a lack of comprehensive data on the amount of stormwater available.”
Volumetric potential of urban runoff
“This assessment from the Pacific Institute, in partnership with 2NDNATURE, quantifies the volumetric potential of urban stormwater runoff in the United States. This groundbreaking report estimates U.S. Urban Areas have the potential to generate 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff annually on average.”
“This is equivalent to an annual average of more than 53 billion gallons per day. It equals 93% of municipal and industrial water withdrawals in 2015, the most recent year with available data.”
Opportunities in coastal areas
“Notably, coastal areas offer outsized opportunities for stormwater capture and use. While coastal subbasins constitute just 12% of urban land area, they generate 37% (21.9 million AFY) of the national stormwater runoff potential. Capturing runoff in coastal subbasins could have fewer adverse impacts on downstream users and can also improve water quality in coastal waterways.”
“Despite the potential, capturing all available stormwater is not always feasible or desirable due to various challenges, including legal constraints and ecological considerations. The report recommends strategies tailored for different regions, emphasizing the need for detailed local assessments.”
Now what
“The report calls for national guidance to streamline stormwater capture and use, encouraging regional collaboration, and expanding applications for stormwater use. It also identifies the need for more funding and financial mechanisms to support stormwater projects, increased integration of water and non-water benefits into water management strategies, and public-private partnerships to leverage stormwater capture’s full potential.”
To Learn More:
Download a copy of the Executive Summary for Untapped Potential: An Assessment of Urban Stormwater Runoff Potential in the United States.
Comments Off on BRITISH COLUMBIA’S 2023 DROUGHT AND IMPACT: “If you’re using water you don’t need right now, it’s cutting into your food security,” stated Kevin Boon, General Manager of the BC Cattlemen’s Association
With much of British Columbia in the grip of drought, farmers are on the front lines
“Rangeland that usually feeds thousands of B.C. cows and calves through summer and fall has been devastated by wildfire or stunted by lack of water. To prevent starvation, ranchers are beginning to move cattle from the mountain grasslands to valley pastures that they would typically bale into hay and store for winter.”
“Finding affordable feed sources to replace the lost hay will be a challenge long after the rain returns,” said Kevin Boon, general manager of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association.
Water and a Changing Climate
“As summers get warmer and drier the need for irrigation of agricultural crops is increasing around the province. This trend is increasing rapidly and the challenge for water management in the province is to improve irrigation system efficiency and store excess stream flows in the spring and freshets for use during drought periods,” stated Ted van der Gulik, President of the Partnership for Water Sustainability. Prior to retirement from government, he was the Senior Engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture.
BC’s path to food security is through water security
Look back to see ahead. The 50th anniversary of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) on April 28, 2023 was an opportunity for reflection followed by action. As Joan Sawicki accurately concluded in her story behind the story, this will require equally good policy and political courage.
The ALR saved the land. Without the ALR, there would be no prospect for food security. Will today’s decision makers rise to the moment and secure the water supply necessary to irrigate the land needed for food security?
In terms of risks and opportunities, the situation in the Fraser Basin illustrates what is at stake for British Columbians.
A Changing Climate Threatens Food Security
Home to two-thirds of British Columbians, the mighty Fraser River is the lifeblood of a vast watershed that stretches from the Rockies to the Pacific. The lower Fraser Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in Canada, is vital to BC’s long-term food security.
The Fraser drains one of the most diverse watersheds in North America – for example, its vast lands contain ten of BC’s fourteen biogeoclimatic zones. Yet many of the Fraser’s 34 tributaries, or riversheds, have been damaged by human activity.
Comments Off on NEW REALITY IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Climate change is now the most significant risk to the water supply,” wrote Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun newspaper columnist (April 2023)
Metro Vancouver needs more than conservation to solve future water needs
“For the past two decades, its directors — councillors and mayors appointed by their various councils — have had conservation as the primary strategy. Up until now, cutting per-capita usage has worked well enough. Crunch time may finally have arrived.”
“We’re going to need more than magical thinking to deal with regional water supplies.”
“A long career provides perspective. In my five decades as water resource planner and engineer, there are three years that really stand out in British Columbia when the topic is water conservation,” stated Kim Stephens. Partnership Executive Director, in his opening remarks at Bowen Island Municipality’s Climate Conversations in July 2021.
“After what in respect was a benign half-century, 1987 was British Columbia’s first wake up call. The drought was unprecedented in living memory. Few people are aware that the Metro Vancouver region came within two weeks of the water storage dams being completely empty. There was no Plan B. All anyone could do was hope the rains would come in November. And they did. The downpour on November 2, 1987 broke the drought.”
“The 1987 drought was a defining moment in that it started changing the conversation about water conservation in BC from folks asking why should we even c0nsider using less water, to a consensus emerging that we do need match water demand to water supply. But it took until 1992, after we experienced our third drought, before people stopped asking the why question.”
Truly Teachable Years
“But it was 2003 that truly was what we call ‘the teachable year.’ The Okanagan Valley was on fire, about 27,000 people were evacuated from the City of Kelowna, and several hundred homes were lost. This really got the attention of British Columbians that the climate was indeed changing. It was the 2003 teachable year that created the opportunity for the Partnership to develop and implement the Water Sustainability Plan for British Columbia through partnerships and collaboration. My Action Plan responsibilities continue to this day.”
“In 2015, the West Coast of North America crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydro-meteorological regime. And it has happened faster than anyone expected. Our new reality is longer, drier summers. A generation ago, water supply managers could reasonably anticipate that three months of water storage would be sufficient to maintain supply during a drought summer. Today, however, a 6-month drought is a very real likelihood. It is necessary to plan accordingly. Communities need double the storage volume.”
Watch the YouTube Video!
To view the presentation by Kim Stephens, watch the 28-minute segment that begins at the 6-minute and concludes at the 34-minute mark. And if you wish to learn about drought-tolerant plants, continue watching to learn from the experience of Kathy Leishman of the Bowen Island Garden Club who says:
“Our garden has developed into two areas, with each having a different focus. The seaside area was planned to be drought tolerant and deer resistant, and has certainly been the most interesting area. Lots of testing and learning going on, even after 23 years! The north side of the house is fenced, and more conventional in planting.”
The Summer 2021 issue of the Asset Management BC Newsletter includes an article co-authored by Kim Stephens to open minds about foundational concepts upon which to build climate adaptation strategies that result in whole-system water management outcomes.
Comments Off on WATCH THE VIDEO / WATER AND A CHANGING CLIMATE: “Because the earth is a closed-loop system, new water is not being created. What is changing in British Columbia is the seasonal distribution. Longer, drier summers are followed by warmer, wetter winters. Extreme droughts followed by extreme floods show just how unbalanced the seasonal water cycle is now. This is our new reality,” stated Kim Stephens, Partnership for Water Sustainability (July 2021)
Water and a Changing Climate: Drought Affects Us All
“The Partnership for Water Sustainability has its roots in government – provincial, federal, and most importantly, local government. Over three decades, the Partnership has evolved – from a technical committee in the 1990s,to a water roundtable in the first decade of the 2000s, to a legal entity in 2010,” stated Kim Stephens. Partnership Executive Director, in his opening remarks at Bowen Island Municipality’s Climate Conversations in July 2021.
“Incorporation of the Partnership for Water Sustainability as a non-profit society allows us to carry on the Living Water Smart mission. We are growing a network, not building an organization. In terms of my professional career as a water resource engineer and planner, I have been in the right place at the right time, and with the right people.”
“In a nutshell, my responsibilities revolve around delivering the Water Sustainability Action Plan through partnerships and collaboration, through a local government network. This background provides me with context and perspective regarding how the local water balance is changing due to global changes in the water cycle, and what BC communities must do to adapt.”
Growing a Network Through Collaborative Leadership
“Collaborative leadership uses the power of influence rather than positional authorityto engage and align individuals and organizations within a network, and deliver results across organizational boundaries. Success depends on creating an environment of trust, mutual respect, and shared aspiration in which all the players can contribute to achieving collective goals.”
“A long career provides perspective. In my five decades as water resource planner and engineer, there are three years that really stand out in British Columbia when the topic is water conservation,”
“After what in respect was a benign half-century, 1987 was British Columbia’s first wake up call. The drought was unprecedented in living memory. Few people are aware that the Metro Vancouver region came within two weeks of the water storage dams being completely empty. There was no Plan B. All anyone could do was hope the rains would come in November. And they did. The downpour on November 2, 1987 broke the drought.”
“The 1987 drought was a defining moment in that it started changing the conversation about water conservation in BC from folks asking why should we even c0nsider using less water, to a consensus emerging that we do need match water demand to water supply. But it took until 1992, after we experienced our third drought, before people stopped asking the why question.”
Truly Teachable Years
“But it was 2003 that truly was what we call ‘the teachable year.’ The Okanagan Valley was on fire, about 27,000 people were evacuated from the City of Kelowna, and several hundred homes were lost. This really got the attention of British Columbians that the climate was indeed changing. It was the 2003 teachable year that created the opportunity for the Partnership to develop and implement the Water Sustainability Plan for British Columbia through partnerships and collaboration. My Action Plan responsibilities continue to this day.”
“In 2015, the West Coast of North America crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydro-meteorological regime. And it has happened faster than anyone expected. Our new reality is longer, drier summers. A generation ago, water supply managers could reasonably anticipate that three months of water storage would be sufficient to maintain supply during a drought summer. Today, however, a 6-month drought is a very real likelihood. It is necessary to plan accordingly. Communities need double the storage volume.”
Watch the YouTube Video!
To view the presentation by Kim Stephens, watch the 28-minute segment that begins at the 6-minute and concludes at the 34-minute mark. And if you wish to learn about drought-tolerant plants, continue watching to learn from the experience of Kathy Leishman of the Bowen Island Garden Club who says:
“Our garden has developed into two areas, with each having a different focus. The seaside area was planned to be drought tolerant and deer resistant, and has certainly been the most interesting area. Lots of testing and learning going on, even after 23 years! The north side of the house is fenced, and more conventional in planting.”
The Summer 2021 issue of the Asset Management BC Newsletter includes an article co-authored by Kim Stephens to open minds about foundational concepts upon which to build climate adaptation strategies that result in whole-system water management outcomes.
Comments Off on WATER SUPPLY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA’S CHANGING CLIMATE: “Since 2000, summer precipitation has dropped about 20 per cent. This step change is unusual,” stated Hans Schreier, a professor emeritus of land and water systems at the University of British Columbia (July 2021)
Note to Reader:
After a period of relative hydro-climatic stability, changes in the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere have resulted in the acceleration of the global hydrologic cycle with huge implications for every region of the world and every sector of the global economy. We can expect deeper, more persistent drought punctuated by flooding. In 2015, the drought that extended over most of the year from winter through spring and summer, and geographically from Vancouver Island to Manitoba and from Mexico to the Yukon suggested we had crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydro-meteorological regime in Western North America. Every year since, with the exception of 2020, has confirmed British Columbia’s new reality: longer, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters.
Mother Nature is ticked off. Can you blame her?
“Fires. Floods. Mudslides. Rivers and reservoirs drying up. Record heat. Rising shorelines. Glacial melting. The Earth is in peril, and many are finally realizing they can no longer think of Earth as the open armed goddess dispensing blessings and bounty to us — especially if we take no steps to curb the activities and habits that have sent carbon dioxide emissions soaring,” wrote Michele Norris in her column published by the Washington Post on July 30, 2021.
“The defining struggle of our time, and our future, will be the tension between Mother Nature and human nature. So, more of us need to think differently about who and what we are dealing with here. That seems to have finally begun.”
The New Climate Reality in British Columbia
“Michele’s second quotable quotable, about the need to think directly, provides relevant context for what we can and must do to adjust to longer and drier summers in British Columbia,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia. “Conceptually, it sounds straightforward to state that we must get our seasonal water use in balance with a changing water cycle. However, pulling this off will require doing many little things over time. Cumulative benefits do add up.
“To provide us with an attention-grabber, Hans Schreier, professor emeritus of land and water systems at the University of British Columbia, has done some invaluable number crunching. In easy to understand terms, Hans has quantified what our new climate reality means from a water supply perspective. He has examined historical precipitation data for multiple stations. He has developed a comparison of long-term averages for two periods: before the year 2000 and since 2000. This comparison provides us with an order-of-magnitude.”
Unusual Changes in Summer Precipitation in the Lower Fraser Region of British Columbia
“Most long-term climate stations within the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia have a 50 to 75-year record. Over this time period, there had been an increasing trend in summer precipitation (May-Aug) until around 2000. Since that time (2000-2020), however, there has been a step change to a lower rate of precipitation of around 20 percent,” explained Hans Schreier.
“This trend is consistent for all of the 8 stations that I examined, namely: Vancouver Airport, Vancouver Harbour, West Vancouver, Gibsons, Squamish, Pemberton, Abbotsford, and Agassiz.”
“This step change is unusual and one of the possible explanations could be that in 1998-99 we had a major El Nino event, which could possible have influenced the ocean current and jet stream to change the phase of the summer precipitation.”
“This step change is not visible for the winter precipitation, which shows no real changing trend. This explanation is of course speculative and much more research is needed to provide a more concise explanation.”
“What is also of importance is that there has been a consistent increasing temperature trends over the entire 50 to 70-year record and this should be of concern for agricultural and municipal water use.”
In media interviews, Hans Schreier commented on recent list of climate disasters, including fires in western North America, and floods in China and Europe. “The drought this year (2021) is just one of many unusual weather patterns around the world being driven by climate change.”
He said it’s becoming increasingly difficult to predict weather because old, reliable patterns are breaking down. “That’s going to be the norm, and it’s going to be continuous variability — and it’s those extremes which are really worrying.”
Soil is a Primary Water Management Tool
Hans Schreier is an advocate for restoring the soil sponge in urban areas.
“Soil can hold more water than all the rivers in the world. If you build a new house, what is the first thing you do? You remove the topsoil. Then you bring in the bulldozers and compact everything. And then, you put in the lawn, which is about 30 millimetres of soil.
“Why not have a bylaw that for every new house, before they put in the lawn, they have to have 300 millimetres of topsoil. That would save you massive amounts of irrigation water.” These measures would all reduce pressure on Metro Vancouver’s three reservoirs during the summer, Schreier said.
“We have options, and most of the options are not expensive. But it means public education and the willingness politically to bite the bullet and do this properly.”
A Shrinking Safety Factor
“Climate change has aggravated an existing vulnerability related to seasonal supply of water in BC. Over time, the safety factor has been shrinking. While it rains a lot in BC, we do not have an abundance of supply when demand is greatest. In addition, the mountainous nature of BC’s geography means that BC communities are typically storage-constrained, and what storage they do have is measured in weeks to months,” added Kim Stephens.
“As of 2015, we clearly crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydrometeorological regime in Western North America. Winters are warmer and wetter. Summers are longer and drier. This new reality has huge consequences for water security, sustainability, and resiliency.”
“A generation ago, water supply managers could reasonably anticipate that three months of water storage would be sufficient to maintain supply during a dry summer. Today, however, a 6-month drought is a very real likelihood, and on a repeating basis. In the meantime, populations have also grown in the major centres.”
Where to Focus Resiliency Efforts
“Because many factors are in play, an over-arching goal for sustainable water supply management would be to build in resiliency that addresses risk,” continued Robert Hicks, City of Vancouver. “If communities are vulnerable on the supply side, then it would make sense to build in resiliency on the use side. There is no silver bullet. Communities need to do many little things. Over time the cumulative benefits of doing many things do add up.”
“One of the little things that would yield cumulative benefits is requiring a foot of soil for all development sites so that there is a sponge that reduces water need and prevents water runoff.”
TO LEARN MORE:
The Summer 2021 issue of the Asset Management BC Newsletter includes an article co-written by Kim Stephens and Robert Hicks to open minds about foundational concepts upon which to build climate adaptation strategies that result in whole-system water management outcomes.
Comments Off on DROUGHTS AFFECT ALL OF US: 42 days and counting – no end in sight for dry spell, which began after Metro Vancouver’s last measurable rainfall on June 15, 2021
Note to Reader:
Currently, Metro Vancouver’s source reservoirs can be maintained nearly full under normal conditions from October to March. Snowpack typically starts melting around April, and the reservoirs are drawn down until early fall when the rain returns. Metro Vancouver posts weekly reservoir storage levels from May to October, when rainfall is lower and the regional demand for water can increase by 50%.
Metro Vancouver storage depletion curve as of July 25, 2021, Note that data from 2015 is included, to show impact of extreme dry weather conditions on total source storage.
Lower Mainland edging toward 70-year-old record for days without rain
“The record for no measurable rain at Vancouver International Airport is 58 days.”
Quotable Quote
“We’re keeping a close eye on things. The lakes have stopped filling, and we have a finite volume of water we’re working with until we get the next significant rains, typically later in summer or the fall,” said Marilyn Towill, general manager of water services with Metro Vancouver.
“Climate change has aggravated an existing vulnerability related to seasonal supply of water in BC. Over time, the safety factor has been shrinking. While it rains a lot in BC, we do not have an abundance of supply when demand is greatest. In addition, the mountainous nature of BC’s geography means that BC communities are typically storage-constrained, and what storage they do have is measured in weeks to months,” said Kim Stephens, Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia.
“As of 2015, we clearly crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydrometeorological regime in Western North America. Winters are warmer and wetter. Summers are longer and drier. This new reality has huge consequences for water security, sustainability, and resiliency.”
“A generation ago, water supply managers could reasonably anticipate that three months of water storage would be sufficient to maintain supply during a dry summer. Today, however, a 6-month drought is a very real likelihood, and on a repeating basis. In the meantime, populations have also grown in the major centres.”
Where to Focus Resiliency Efforts
“Because many factors are in play, an over-arching goal for sustainable water supply management would be to build in resiliency that addresses risk. If communities are vulnerable on the supply side, then it would make sense to build in resiliency on the use side. There is no silver bullet. Communities need to do many little things. Over time the cumulative benefits of doing many things do add up.”
“One of the little things that would yield cumulative benefits is requiring a foot of soil for all development sites so that there is a sponge that reduces water need and prevents water runoff.”
TO LEARN MORE:
The Summer 2021 issue of the Asset Management BC Newsletter includes an article co-written by Kim Stephens and Robert Hicks to open minds about foundational concepts upon which to build climate adaptation strategies that result in whole-system water management outcomes.
Comments Off on DROUGHTS AFFECT ALL OF US: “A generation ago, water supply managers could reasonably anticipate that three months of water storage would be sufficient to maintain supply during a dry summer. Today, however, a 6-month drought is a very real likelihood,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC (July 2021)
The Summer 2021 issue of the Asset Management BC Newsletterincludes an article co-written by Kim Stephens and Robert Hicks of the Partnership for Water Sustainability to open minds about foundational concepts upon which to build climate adaptation strategies that result in whole-system water management outcomes.
“Robert Hicks and I have observed that, for all the talk over a long period of time about climate change and what it means, many local government practitioners still lack a full understanding of some foundational concepts and how to translate such concepts into resilient solutions and actions that would benefit their communities. In our article, we provide food for thought,” stated Kim Stephens.
“Too often, in our experience, there is a tendency to add layers of complexity and lose sight of the nature of a problem as well as the obvious solution. Our purpose in writing the article, then, was introduce the Asset Management BC readership to a foundational concept, namely Water OUT=Water IN, and open minds to spark conversations within local governments about what this deceptively simple equation means from the operational perspective.”
A Shrinking Safety Factor
“Climate change has aggravated an existing vulnerability related to seasonal supply of water in BC. Over time, the safety factor has been shrinking. While it rains a lot in BC, we do not have an abundance of supply when demand is greatest. In addition, the mountainous nature of BC’s geography means that BC communities are typically storage-constrained, and what storage they do have is measured in weeks to months.”
“As of 2015, we clearly crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydrometeorological regime in Western North America. Winters are warmer and wetter. Summers are longer and drier. This new reality has huge consequences for water security, sustainability, and resiliency.”
“A generation ago, water supply managers could reasonably anticipate that three months of water storage would be sufficient to maintain supply during a dry summer. Today, however, a 6-month drought is a very real likelihood, and on a repeating basis. In the meantime, populations have also grown in the major centres.”
Dealing with Uncertainty and Managing Risk
“The key message in our article is that climate change is not a driver; rather, it is another variable. Climate change is only one factor to consider when we talk about sustainable infrastructure and sustainable water supply. The real issues are uncertainty and risk, more specifically how we deal with the first and manage the latter,” continued Robert Hicks.
“A constant challenge for planning is not to prevent past events, but instead is to use past experiences to inform and create flexible strategies for the present and the future. Furthermore, this need for flexibility is not restricted to the immediate scope of the problem at hand; but must also consider the broader juggling of evolving local government priorities and service demands.”
“This leads to the challenge of assessing problems with sufficient complexity to arrive at flexible and resilient solutions, while at the same time not being overwhelmed and paralyzed by over-analysis.”
“Climate change impacts are risks which can be addressed by aligning asset lifecycles to performance or change thresholds which consider how levels-of-service are likely to deteriorate in response to climate changes impacts. Lifecycles must therefore be considered and re-aligned with the new changing ‘normal’ conditions.”
Climate Change Impacts are Not Optional
“If we look at the variability in climate change impact scenarios that may occur within many asset lifecycles, we may get distracted by the uncertainty and statistical variance of the magnitude among the anticipated changes for key parameters that inform levels-of-service.”
“Another way to consider this variance and uncertainty is to not look at the variation of key parameters for a given future year, but rather consider the time-range that a key performance threshold might be reached.”
“For asset management, the consideration is how and when assets might be compromised in their lifecycle by climate change and certainly that new assets need to consider what climate change impacts will affect their lifecycle and levels-of-service.”
Comments Off on OUTDOOR WATER USE IN BALANCE WITH A CHANGING WATER CYCLE: “Local governments in three regions – Okanagan, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island – are collaborating with the Partnership for Water Sustainability to operationalize the BC Landscape Water Calculator. This new online tool helps homeowners design water efficient yards and gardens,” stated Ted van Gulik
NOTE TO READER:
Targeting seasonal outdoor water use represents the best opportunity to achieve “water use in balance with a changing water cycle”. The article below shines the spotlight on the Partnership for Water Sustainability’s program to operationalize use of theBC Landscape Water Calculator, the newest tool in the Partnership toolbox. The Calculator is up and running in three regions: Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Fraser Valley.
Readers have a choice of scrolling down to read this story entirely online, or alternatively, download a PDF copy of the report-style version for later ease of reference and sharing.
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE onWater Use in Balance with a Changing Water Cycle
“Warmer and wetter winters; longer and drier summers. When supply is at a minimum, demand is at a maximum. This is British Columbia’s new reality. Adapting means that we must view water differently. Our seasonal use of water for yard and garden irrigation must be in balance with a changing water cycle,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia.
“To achieve the goal of water sustainability, the 45 actions and targets in Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan establish expectations for Doing Business Differently, Preparing Communities for Change, and Choosing to Be Water Smart.”
“To support necessary changes in water resource and demand management practice, the Partnership and governments are collaborating to develop resources and implement science-based tools that build understanding and influence choices. One of these tools is the BC Landscape Water Calculator.”
“Widespread use of this online, public domain tool would help communities meet their targets for allowable water use and total demand reduction at the property and community scales, respectively.”
A Storyline in Three Parts
“To paint a broad-brush picture of evolving expectations and requirements, the storyline that follows is structured in three cascading parts. First, an over-arching context. Then, a description of the BC Landscape Water Calculator. And finally, an overview of local government perspectives in the three regions where the tool now supports water conservation programs.”
“Provincial grant programs are aligned with water conservation targets, and Water Conservation Plans are a requirement. With many plans now being more than 5 years old, it is time for a refresh. And this is where the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing believes the BC Landscape Water Calculator has a timely fit.”
PART ONE: Ministry Expectations Evolve into Contract Requirements for Grants
“A longstanding goal of the Ministry of the Municipal Affairs and Housing is to find a balance between supporting those local governments who are leaders, while over time raising the bar to encourage the rest,” reports Brian Bedford, Executive Director, Local Government Infrastructure & Finance, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“Going back 15 years to the mid-2000s, the Province recognized the need to encourage better water conservation by water users and water purveyors in BC. The question was – what policy levers were available to help make that change, and what would incentivize it? And so, the Ministry found an opportunity to align provincial grant programs with water conservation targets.”
“The Ministry defined the Water Conservation Condition as the contractual mechanism of choice. It is written into all contracts for infrastructure grants as a requirement. It must be satisfied before grants are fully paid out. The Water Conservation Condition has been the lynchpin for the Ministry’s multi-year approach to incentivizing changes in practice.”
Mandatory Requirement for Water Conservation Plans
“Over time, the process has been one of incrementally raising the bar in defined steps – awareness first, then education, and finally, full implementation. In the case of Water Conservation Plans, it went from being questions to becoming an optional document, to being a conditional requirement on approved contracts.”
“The bar has been raised and no longer can a local government simply state in an application that they have a Water Conservation Plan endorsed by Council or Board resolution. A Water Conservation Plan is a mandatory document to even apply for an infrastructure grant. When a grant application is submitted, the Ministry asks for confirmation that an up-to-date plan has been approved by Council or Board resolution within the last 5 years.”
Pointing the Way to the BC Water Landscape Water Calculator:
“Currently, the Water Conservation Condition points to the Water Conservation Calculator, an online decision support tool implemented more than a decade by the Ministry in collaboration with the Partnership for Water Sustainability. This front-end tool initially helped to leverage development of Water Conservation Plans across the province. A majority of local governments across the province now has such plans. This represents cumulative progress over time.”
“With many of those Water Conservation Plans now being more than 5 years old, it is time for a refresh. And this is where the Ministry believes the new BC Landscape Water Calculator has a timely fit. The tool is an exciting new evolution. It would allow local governments to further support their Water Conservation Plans with the next piece of education for those who are actually turning on the taps at their homes.”
“Moving forward, updating the Water Conservation Condition for the next iteration of the grants program would create the opportunity to also integrate the BC Landscape Water Calculator and start nudging local governments to be aware of the tool. Initially, we would flag it as an available tool that local governments can explore and work with.”
Updating of the Water Conservation Condition
“Prior to payment by the Province in excess of 75% of the approved funding amount, local governments must provide an update on their water conservation work and the goals that have been accomplished by the existing plan during the period following Council or Board approval.”
“The Ministry requires that the local government include both an assessment of what their successes have been, and a look ahead as to where their Water Conservation Plan is going next.”
“It is in the look ahead that one can foresee the opportunity for a local government to identify what role the BC Landscape Water Calculator could play in achieving water conservation targets and further reducing water use in the community,” concludes Brian Bedford.
PART TWO: BC Landscape Water Calculator: Science-Based / Evolving Through Collaboration
“The power of the BC Landscape Water Calculator is that it is linked to a provincial 500 metre gridded climate dataset that was built for the Agricultural Water Demand Model. This is what establishes the allowable water budget for each and every property in British Columbia,” explains Ted van der Gulik, Chair, BC Landscape Water Calculator Program. Prior to retirement from government, he was the Senior Engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The allowable water budget is a real number. It is based on average climate data for the period 2000 through 2010 for the active growing season. This establishes a location-specific performance target for landscape design. Users then test various combinations of plant types and irrigation systems to determine their total landscape water need. The objective is to find the combination that is within the allowable water budget for the location.”
“Now any property owner in BC can zoom in to their property and quantify their outdoor water need based on climate, soil, plant type and irrigation system. Over time, province-wide use of the tool would result in enhanced resiliency of community water supplies, by developing landscapes that are water efficient.”
Program for Operationalizing the Calculator Across British Columbia
“A substantial grant from the RBC Blue Water Project enabled the Partnership to develop the BC Landscape Water Calculator. The grant made it possible for us to accelerate the timeline for implementing an idea. When we shared our vision with RBC Blue Water staff, they immediately grasped the potential of the tool. They urged us to submit a funding application asap.”
“It is always about the right people in the right place at the right time. The City of Kelowna was also enthusiastic about the tool. Staff could see how the calculator would support Kelowna’s requirement for a Landscape Water Conservation Report as part of the City’s adaptation of the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper program (QWEL). And so, the City agreed to facilitate the RBC Blue Water grant on behalf of the Partnership. The stars were in alignment. The BC Landscape Water Calculator initiative was well and truly launched.”
The First Cohort of Demonstration Applications:
“Within the past 12 months, the Partnership has collaborated with three local governments to operationalize the BC Landscape Water Calculator in three regions: Okanagan (City of Kelowna), Fraser Valley (City of Abbotsford) and Vancouver Island (Capital Regional District). With each application, there is a new twist. Each time, we evolve the tool to meet the needs of our partners. Everyone benefits. This is the power of the collaborative approach.”
“The tool is universal, but the drivers for local governments using it are different. The Kelowna version is oriented to contractors who must submit reports as a requirement of the QWEL program. In the case of Abbotsford, the focus is squarely on homeowners who wish to apply for a $250 Waterwise Landscape Rebate. In the Capital Regional Region, the tool supports Live Green and Work Green educational programs in the residential and commercial sectors, respectively.”
“Customizing of the tool for each region included plant selection dropdowns. Sounds innocuous, doesn’t it? Not so! There is no readily available resource for water efficient plants in British Columbia. The Partnership had to customize a database for each region. This is a key resource; and is unique to the BC Landscape Water Calculator.
“But the inventory of water efficient plants is accessible only in communities where the local government is a project partner. In addition to this valuable feature, the calculator provides users with guidance as to whether plant selections are suitable for sun exposure or shade. Think about why that is important.”
PART THREE: Operationalizing the BC Landscape Water Calculator to Design Water Efficient Yards and Gardens – Three Case Studies
Targeting seasonal outdoor water use represents the best opportunity to achieve “water use in balance with a changing water cycle”. The Calculator is up and running in three regions: Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Fraser Valley. Continue reading to learn about each of three case studies:
City of Kelowna
City of Abbotsford
Capital Regional District
CASE STUDY 1: Landscape Water Conservation Reporting in Kelowna
“Over the past decade, collaboration with the City of Kelowna was a natural fit to both build the BC Landscape Water Calculator and undertake a pilot demonstration application,” reports Ted van der Gulik. “The City has implemented innovative approaches to management of water use and landscape irrigation, such as the QWEL program. The City has an oversight system in place to ensure that landscape design and irrigation design work together to achieve water efficiency.”
“QWEL, the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper certification program, is a great way for homeowners to ensure that landscape and irrigation contractors have water conservation in mind, consider native landscape material, and provide top notch workmanship in their services,” adds Ed Hoppe, Water Quality and Customer Care Supervisor, City of Kelowna.
“The City’s approval process for integration of landscape and irrigation system design is keyed to three requirements. First, use of turf-grass is limited to a maximum of 60% of the site. Secondly, irrigation systems must be sized so that water use would not exceed the allowable annual water budget. Thirdly, a Landscape Water Conservation Report must be submitted for the City’s approval.”
CASE STUDY 2: Irrigation and Landscape Water Efficiency in Abbotsford
“I started with the City of Abbotsford in 2010 at a time when water conservation was really ramping up because of high peak demands in the late 2000s,” recalls Amy Peters. She coordinates the City’s water conservation program.
A regional bulk water supply system serves the City of Abbotsford (south side of Fraser River) and District of Mission (north side of the river). The principal supply source is Norrish Creek/Dickson Lake.
Context for Water Use Efficiency
“Because the Fraser Valley’s population had been (and still is) growing so fast, our peak demands were getting quite high a decade ago. In addition to looking for a new water source, the City’s immediate priority was to target peak demands to reduce total water use.”
“In 2011, Abbotsford became the first municipality in Canada to implement Advanced Metering Infrastructure (smart meters). Soon after, the City switched from an annual water billing to bi-monthly billing.”
“We were really lucky. Implementation of the smart meters combined with the changes in billing made a massive difference. We saw a 20 to 30 percent drop in peak demand! This level has held steady over the past decade and bought us time to explore different source options.”
You Manage What You Can Measure
“In 2011, the City looked at options to reduce peak water demands due to the high cost of a new water source. This included conservation, optimizing existing sources and system efficiencies. Several different conservation programs were explored, one of the programs implemented was a voluntary program for irrigation and landscape water efficiency,” continues Amy Peters.
Irrigation and Landscape Water Efficiency Program:
“This program involved doing assessments of individual properties. Because they were in-depth, the assessments took a lot of time. We did not know whether the impact was great or small. Our rationale was that it is more about building awareness.”
“These assessments led homeowners to ask for incentives. In turn, this led to the rebate program. And so, we wanted to find a way to evaluate the program and demonstrate that there were water savings.”
“The solution to our need was the BC Landscape Water Calculator. The value of the calculator is that homeowners can now provide us with a report that shows how their choice of water efficient plants and landscape design meets their water budget. The report is the basis for payment of a rebate.”
Managing Peak Water Demand:
“The City sees the BC Landscape Water Calculator in helping us manage our peak demand. It really is about building the awareness through education. I like that the calculator will be able to show people just how much they can reduce their water use.”
“Many homeowners are now familiar with how much they are using because the number is on their utility bill. It really is important that they be able to see how much outdoor water use contributes to their total water demand. The BC Landscape Water Calculator does this.”
Conversion of Lawns to Water Efficient Landscapes:
“I have been looking at different ways to market water conservation. It is something that I really want to focus on. We already have sprinkler patrols, the main purpose of which is education. The patrol members also talk to homeowners about the Irrigation and Landscape Program.”
“We are encouraging people to transform their front yards by replacing grass with water efficient plants. We are promoting both water efficient and native plants. The BC Landscape Water Calculator provides them with choices for both. An unintended outcome of customizing the tool for Abbotsford is in the way it gives homeowners direction for plant selection. This is powerful.”
To support the City of Abbotsford’s use of the BC Landscape Water Calculator, the Partnership for Water Sustainability developed a database of common waterwise plants that can be used towards the City’s Water Wise Landscape Rebate Program. An important feature of the Calculator is how the dropdown settings guide the user selection of native and water efficient plants depending on whether planting locations are in the sun, shade, or a combination.
CASE STUDY 3: Live Green, Work Green in the Capital Regional District
“The BC Landscape Water Calculator is yet another example of how being one of the partners in the Water Sustainability Partnership means that local governments can benefit from the work of others, and then take that work a little bit further each time,” observes Glenn Harris.
He is the Senior Manager of the CRD’s environmental protection team. The team has responsibility for CRD water conservation initiatives and programs. Their work covers both the residential and business sectors. For the latter, the primary focus is on the owners of large properties that have multiple dwelling units.
“The cities of Kelowna and Abbotsford were instrumental in operationalizing the tool. Now, the CRD has come on board. As well, CRD has a different water regime and climate. This inter-regional collaboration showcases how the BC Water Landscape Calculator is adaptable to different regions that have different concerns and constraints around water supply.”
Vision for Integrated “Live Green” Program
“Late in 2020, our team introduced the vision for implementing an integrated Live Green residential program focused on the yard and garden,” notes Glenn Harris.
“CRD is embarking upon a broader, integrated educational approach to align water conservation and watershed health messaging. Using the online BC Landscape Water Calculator as part of this program will enable participation by more homeowners and businesses to design their green spaces to use water wisely. Once we raise awareness of the calculator through outreach and education, use by homeowners will be voluntary.”
“The ultimate goal of a whole-system approach to a healthy landscape program would be to use less water during dry weather and reduce rainwater runoff during wet weather.
Live Green in your yard and garden this summer campaign:
“Live Green in the Yard and Garden is the umbrella for an integrated campaign featuring the Summer Waterwise Campaign in 2021. The focus will be on efficient irrigation and water conservation measures, as well as what homeowners can do to improve the health of the watershed that they live in.”
“We will also engage with businesses, especially those who own large properties. We are really talking about working with the owners of MURBs – that is, multi unit residential buildings. But it could also encompass institutional properties. Our objective is to encourage building owners and strata councils to think differently about their site landscaping and how they are using water.”
“The integrated piece is bringing in all the water conservation messaging and aligning it with biodiversity, pollution prevention and reduction of impervious surfaces. It is all about ensuring there is an absorbent landscape to accept rainfall. If we can achieve that, it delays runoff during wet weather.”
“We are early in the planning for a Healthy Landscape Program. We hope this would be a component of the Yard and Garden Campaign in 2022. In terms of integrated messaging, the landing page for anything residential will be www.crd.bc.ca/livegreen.”
Waterwise Summer Campaign 2021
“CRD saw that our participation in the BC Landscape Water Calculator initiative would benefit both our residential and business water conservation programs,” continues Glenn Harris.
“When CRD launches Waterwise Summer as part of Live Green in the Yard and Garden, we will promote the BC Landscape Water Calculator as part of the program. The campaign objective is to raise awareness throughout the region about water conservation.”
“We will present the BC Landscape Water Calculator as a tool that anyone can use to design a water efficient irrigation system and landscape plan.”
“Looking ahead, the Winter Live Green Campaign will focus on indoor water use. This campaign will bring together the CRD’s regional source control messaging (for liquid waste management) and indoor water conservation messaging. In short, the CRD is doing full-on integration! We are striving for water balance management over the entire year.”
Fostering Stewardship in the Capital Region:
“Everything is linked. Live Green in the Yard and Garden is taking the waterwise and watershed messaging, putting the two together, and delivering them under one umbrella.”
“An aspect of the BC Landscape Water Calculator that CRD staff really like is that it encourages use of native plants. Native plants are great for reducing outdoor water use. Not only do they require less water because they are adapted to this climate, use of native plants also promotes biodiversity and healthy ecosystems across the region.”
“A list of common native and drought tolerant plants has been populated into the BC Landscape Calculator for the Capital Region so users can plan a water efficient landscape; care was taken to ensure that no invasive plants were included.”
“If homeowners can be discouraged from using invasive species while being encouraged to use native plants, then this would be Win/Win for water efficiency and the natural ecosystem. The BC Landscape Water Calculator is a new tool for the CRD’s Summer Waterwise Campaign. It has real potential to foster a stewardship ethic on the part of homeowners.”
What Next?
“The CRD application of the BC Landscape Water Calculator has opened the door to interlinking it with the Water Balance Express for Homeowners, another of the Partnership’s online tools,” states Ted van der Gulik.
A Look Ahead: Water Balance Management at the Property Scale!
“The future is now closer than ever. The reason for optimism is that, prompted by the CRD, we have incorporated dropdowns for the non-irrigated portion of properties, including building footprint. This feature has jump-started the conversation. Interlinking with the Express is an exciting prospect.”
“Once the tools are interlinked, it would be within the grasp of communities to achieve‘whole-system, water balance management’at the property scale. The BC Landscape Water Calculator is a dry-weather tool for water use management; the Water Balance Express is a wet-weather tool for drainage runoff management.”
“The commonality is soil and how soil functions as an absorbent sponge to hold and slowly release water, thereby maintaining the water balance during wet and dry cycles.”
“As more local governments join the BC Landscape Water Calculator and Water Balance Express initiatives, the scope of cost-sharing of interlinking and other enhancements will further add to the capabilities and ease-of-use of both tools.”
About the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC
Incorporation of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia as a not-for-profit society on November 19, 2010 was a milestone moment. Incorporation signified a bold leap forward. The Partnership evolved from a technical committee in the 1990s, to a “water roundtable” in the first decade of the 2000s, and then to a legal entity. The Partnership has its roots in government – local, provincial, federal.
Conceptual Framework for Inter-Generational Collaboration
Technical knowledge alone is not enough to resolve water challenges facing BC. Making things happen in the real world requires an appreciation and understanding of human behaviour, combined with a knowledge of how decisions are made. It takes a career to figure this out.
The Partnership has a primary goal, to build bridges of understanding and pass the baton from the past to the present and future. To achieve the goal, the Partnership is growing a network in the local government setting. This network embraces collaborative leadership and inter-generational collaboration.
Application of Experience, Knowledge and Wisdom
The Partnership believes that when each generation is receptive to accepting the inter-generational baton and embracing the wisdom that goes with it, the decisions of successive generations will benefit from and build upon the experience of those who went before them.
The Partnership leadership team brings experience, knowledge, and wisdom – a forceful combination to help collaborators reach their vision, mission, and goals for achieving water sustainability. When they are successful, the Partnership is successful.
The Time Continuum graphic(above) conceptualizes the way of thinking that underpins the inter-generational mission of the Partnership for Water Sustainability. Influence choices. Capitalize on the REACHABLE and TEACHABLE MOMENTS to influence choices.
Comments Off on “A Water Conservation Plan is a mandatory document in order to apply for an infrastructure grant. The Ministry requires that local governments include both an assessment of what their successes have been, and a look ahead as to where their plans are going next,” stated Brian Bedford, Executive Director, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing
Note to Reader:
The edition of Waterbucket eNews published on June 8, 2021 focused on targeting seasonal outdoor water use. This represents the best opportunity to achieve “water use in balance with a changing water cycle”. The spotlight was on the Partnership for Water Sustainability’s program to operationalize use of the BC Landscape Water Calculator, the newest tool in the Partnership toolbox. The Calculator is up and running in three regions: Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Fraser Valley.
Outdoor Water Use in Balance with a Changing Water Cycle
Warmer and wetter winters; longer and drier summers. When supply is at a minimum, demand is at a maximum. This is British Columbia’s new reality. Adapting means that we must view water differently. Our seasonal use of water for yard and garden irrigation must be in balance with a changing water cycle,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia.
“To support necessary changes in water resource and demand management practice, the Partnership and governments are collaborating to develop resources and implement science-based tools that build understanding and influence choices. One of these tools is the BC Landscape Water Calculator.”
Provincial Government Expectations Evolve into Contract Requirements for Grants
“A longstanding goal of the Ministry of the Municipal Affairs and Housing is to find a balance between supporting those local governments who are leaders, while over time raising the bar to encourage the rest,” stated Brian Bedford, Executive Director, Local Government Infrastructure & Finance, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“Going back 15 years to the mid-2000s, the Province recognized the need to encourage better water conservation by water users and water purveyors in BC. The question was – what policy levers were available to help make that change, and what would incentivize it? And so, the Ministry found an opportunity to align provincial grant programs with water conservation targets.”
“The Ministry defined the Water Conservation Condition as the contractual mechanism of choice.”
“With many Water Conservation Plans now being more than 5 years old, it is time for a refresh. And this is where the Ministry believes the new BC Landscape Water Calculator has a timely fit. The tool is an exciting new evolution. It would allow local governments to further support their Water Conservation Plans with the next piece of education for those who are actually turning on the taps at their homes.”
“Incorporation of the Partnership for Water Sustainability as a non-profit society allows us to carry on the 
“Michele’s second quotable quotable, about the need to think directly, provides relevant context for what we can and must do to adjust to longer and drier summers in British Columbia,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia. “Conceptually, it sounds straightforward to state that we must get our seasonal water use in balance with a changing water cycle. However, pulling this off will require doing many little things over time. Cumulative benefits do add up.
We’re keeping a close eye on things. The lakes have stopped filling, and we have a finite volume of water we’re working with until we get the next significant rains, typically later in summer or the fall,” said Marilyn Towill, general manager of water services with Metro Vancouver.
“As of 2015, we clearly crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydrometeorological regime in Western North America. Winters are warmer and wetter. Summers are longer and drier. This new reality has huge consequences for water security, sustainability, and resiliency.”
“Robert Hicks and I have observed that, for all the talk over a long period of time about climate change and what it means, many local government practitioners still lack a full understanding of some foundational concepts and how to translate such concepts into resilient solutions and actions that would benefit their communities. In our article, we provide food for thought,” stated Kim Stephens.
“A constant challenge for planning is not to prevent past events, but instead is to use past experiences to inform and create flexible strategies for the present and the future. Furthermore, this need for flexibility is not restricted to the immediate scope of the problem at hand; but must also consider the broader juggling of evolving local government priorities and service demands.”
“To achieve the goal of water sustainability, the 45 actions and targets in 
