Local governments in the Okanagan Valley are urged to begin regional water management planning now and avoid acrimony down the road—when drought conditions threaten supplies.

The warning came from environmental law professor Deborah Curran from the University of Victoria, one of the advisors involved in creation of the province’s new Water Sustainability Act, legislation passed earlier this year.

Water sustainability planning provides a home-grown solution to satisfying different water needs within a region, and she recommended that local communities begin discussions now toward a plan that will evolve over time, but which would be in place “before the ditches run dry.”

Such plans would take the place of falling back on traditional water rights, with groups and individuals agreeing on what would happen to water resources under different scenarios, such as drought, she explained.

These plans would be based on ensuring that the region’s economy doesn’t suffer under different water-related stressors.

“Let’s talk about it ahead of time,” she advised.

Curran warned civic politicians and staff that changes are coming as regulations for the new act are implemented, and it will mean local governments must now consider water in making land use decisions.

She recommended local governments consult hydrologists to ensure water is used as one of the filters on decision-making.

She said there will be provision for the province to restrict the number of dwellings on a parcel of land in an area where there is limited water available, for example. As well, she said that under the act, the environment’s needs for water must be considered, particularly where fish are concerned. Such in-stream flow requirements take precedence over other water rights—even the traditional ‘first-in-time, first-in-right’ or FITFIR water allocation system.

She noted that since the Okanagan is the driest part of the province, water issues here are the most acute in the province.
Either local governments can work together to come to agreements about sustainable water use, or the province can impose them, she added. “The process is up to you.”

Agriculture water reserves could be part of such water management plans, she said.

New groundwater regulations will be the first to come into force as part of the new act, and they’re slated to be introduced Apr. 1, 2015. Large users will be the focus at first. Up to now, groundwater use in B.C. has been unregulated.