This document discusses building sustainable communities in the face of water management challenges like droughts and pollution from population growth. It examines questions around water supply and demand, and identifies priorities like assessing water resources and stakeholder needs. Key topics covered include water planning, allocation, monitoring, and drought preparedness. The document explores balancing priorities around waterways, agriculture, recreation and development, given realities of periodic shortages and high domestic water usage. It advocates local groundwater regulation and provides resources for water planning.

1. Building Sustainable Communities
2010

2.  Founded in 1970
• Droughts
• Pollution
• Population boom
 Water
management
mandate

3.  Are we running out of
water?
 Are there too many
people in the valley?
 Should we prohibit all
golf courses?
 Where should we have
development?

4. First ‐
 Assess water supply & demand
 Identify stakeholder needs
 Target problems & priorities
Then ‐
 Local & Regional water planning
 Water allocation decisions
 Drought management

5.  Water supply & demand
 Endocrine disrupters
 Water use reporting
 Groundwater monitoring
 Drought planning
 Water pricing

11. Less snow,
more rain

12. summer low‐flows
Competition for water

14.  Healthy waterways?
• Protect birds & fish, keep water clean, reduce erosion
 Local agriculture?
• Health, food security, economic stability
 Green space?
• Air quality, views,
 Golf courses?
• Economic driver, keeps greenspace open, exercise
 Green lawns and gardens?
• Popular hobby, food security, healthy recreation
Minimize conflicts?

15. Supply reality
 Shortages happen every summer
 Some years are dry everywhere
 Some areas higher risk for chronic shortages
 Hillside development on groundwater a high risk
Demand reality
 We use more water than anyone else
 78% of domestic water goes on lawns
 Not enough water to support sprawl

16.  Unregulated by
province
 Overdraft creates
conflict between
neighbours
 Local government
has power to
regulate
development

17.  Tool for planners
 Groundwater science
handbook
 Model bylaws: e.g.,
• OCP policies
• Geothermal
• Pumping rates

20. www.obwb.ca
www.okwaterwise.ca