Auditor general raps B.C.'s groundwater plan

By Damian Inwood, The Province December 1, 2010

The B.C. government isn’t doing enough to protect the sustainability and safety of groundwater supplies, says Auditor General John Doyle.

“One million British Columbians are estimated to rely on groundwater for daily use and this demand is increasing,” said Doyle in a news release Wednesday. “The government must put in place an appropriate framework to manage this precious resource sustainably.”

Many communities rely on groundwater for drinking water, which comes from aquifers as opposed to the reservoirs that are used in major urban centres.

Doyle said the B.C.’s Environment Ministry doesn’t have sufficient information to ensure the sustainability of groundwater.

He also said groundwater is not being protected from depletion and contamination, and there is insufficient control over access to it.

“While the ministry has a number of initiatives under way that will continue to protect groundwater quality and quantity, to fully implement the audit recommendations will require substantial additional funding and staff,” added Doyle, in his report.

He said that costs to upgrade existing databases would cost about $4.5 million over the next five years.

Doyle said that the Ministry of Environment is in the process of modernizing the Water Act and new legislation is expected by 2012.

“While there is much to be done, I am encouraged that government has recognized groundwater’s vulnerability and made its protection a priority through modernization of the Water Act,” said Doyle. “I look forward to receiving updates on the ministry’s plans and actions to address these issues and the recommendations in my report.”

He said new legislation is expected by 2012.

dinwood@theprovince.com

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