2361 Kilpatrick Ave
Courtenay, BC V9N 7Z3
Canada
Building Sustainable Small Water Systems
Approximately 10 per cent of British Columbia’s population relies on a small water system to deliver water to their home. These individual and families, most of whom are living in rural or remote communities, are depending on these systems to protect their health, quality of life and the environment. However, small systems experience more water quality advisories than large systems, and often struggle to maintain the infrastructure associated with their water supply due to financial and operational challenges.
About the project
To help address many of the risks facing small water systems and the communities they serve, the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) is launching a pilot project to build financial and management capacity of up to 40 systems across the province. Through training, professional coaching and community engagement, the BCWWA will provide system representatives with the information and tools to improve the financial sustainability, operational resilience and safety of their systems. The pilot will run from January 2016 to March 2017.
How to participate
Are you part of a Water Users Community (WUC), Mobile Home Park, strata, co‐operative, or small Improvement District? Does your water system serve at least 30 homes and a population of up to 500 people? Is your system independent and not directly connected to a municipality or regional district and as a result, not eligible for government funding for upgrades or major repairs? If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you may be a great candidate to participate.
Learn more about the challenges facing small water systems
- Are our Water Systems at Risk? Assessing the Financial Sustainability of BC’s Municipal Water and Sewer Systems(2015) by BCWWA
- Fit to Drink (2008) by the BC Ombudsman
- Recommendations for Addressing Key Small Water System Challenges (2013) by the UBCM Small Systems Working Group