Living water smart in British Columbia - Actions for water efficiency

Dynamic river systems and iconic lakes and fisheries are part of British Columbia’s identity and quality of life. Like New Zealanders, British Columbians value their water bodies and are passionate about improving the way they are managed. However, unlike New Zealand, British Columbia has widespread heavy industry and resource extraction activities, the added layer of federal government, an old and complex legal framework, and a mind-boggling variety of native species ranging from grouse to grizzlies all relying on healthy watersheds.

Living Water Smart is British Columbia’s Water Plan. In it, the BC provincial government has committed to 45 actions or targets to keep British Columbia’s water resources healthy and safe. British Columbia has an ambitious target to improve water efficiency by 33% by 2020. After outlining some important contextual differences, this paper describes the efficiency measures in the plan and progress to date. In addition, it outlines British Columbia’s proposals to modernize their outdated Water Act, focusing on proposals to improve both administrative and water use efficiency. Lessons and recommendations from British Columbia’s experience that could be adapted to the New Zealand water governance and management context conclude this paper.