By C. Moss

Canada is facing drought driven by climate change.  All across the nation we are starting to hear the warning cries of communities, urban and rural, telling us that lack of water is a growing concern.  When we look at the Capital Regional District and its grip on piped water, we can see that the CRD is really only concerned with its own distribution system through pipes and other infrastructure.  It does not consider anyone’s water security if they are not connected to the system.  However there are 1400 (?) wells drawing water throughout the CRD.  Those residents have no one who can speak to their concerns at the CRD level.

The BC Water Sustainability Act of 2016 set up the possibility of creating water commissions to inform local water districts.  The CRD has 10 water commissions (including one called the Juan de Fuca Water Commission) All of them deal with concerns and changes to existing piped water systems.  What we believe is needed is a CRD Rural Water Commission to reflect the growing concern of residents who are not connected to piped water.  This Commission would be made up of professionals in areas of watershed management, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, biology and botany, geography and CRD staff and would be mandated to unravel the issues coming forward from watershed management which impact the health of regional water security.

The commission might begin to survey the watersheds of the Juan de Fuca electoral area which comprises 61% of the CRD land base.  Degradation over the last century of watersheds due to forestry practices are being amplified by the warming of climate change.  This in turn will change the amount of moisture available on the watershed, changing the type of vegetation and animals that live on those watersheds, and changing the amount of water that infiltrates the soil and maintains the underground aquifers which all domestic well owners use for their potable water.

At present there is no “go-to” source within the CRD for rural water information and guidance.  Building permits and variances are frequently approved “subject to” – proof of water, approval of ALR, and approval of VIHA – which leaves a developer having to cross fingers and build a house while not knowing if the new well they have drilled will interfere with other wells in the areas and to potentially be told they may not draw water from their well.

There is an increase in the number of wildfires and changes in fire behaviour  on the Island  which are becoming a cause for alarm, as they spread faster, burn hotter and even explode, making them more dangerous and difficult to fight. It will only take one such fire experience to destroy our wild areas and cause damage to our homes and infrastructure. A CRD Rural Water Commission could partner with municipalities and Forestry to conduct controlled burns of forests to reduce the risk of fire hazard.