British Columbia Bill Would Regulate Groundwater Withdrawals, Boost Monitoring

摘要

The British Columbia government said it will introduce legislation in 2014 to regulate groundwater use and large groundwater withdrawals and to increase monitoring and reporting. The proposed law may include fees for large withdrawals of groundwater, the Environment Ministry said. "British Columbia's proposed Water Sustainability Act will update and replace the existing Water Act, respond to current and future pressures on water-including groundwater-and position B.C. as a leader in water stewardship," Environment Minister Mary Polak said in an Aug. 23 statement to BNA. Groundwater extraction and use are not currently regulated in the province except for large projects using more than 75 liters per second, the ministry said in a background document. Regulating groundwater use in priority areas and large groundwater withdrawals and monitoring and reporting are commitments in the government's Living Water Smart Plan and are key components of the proposed act.