With water scarcity top of mind for many BC communities, join us at this informative networking event that looks at drought management in BC today, what changes are on the horizon with the Water Sustainability Act, and two island community perspectives.
Presentation Overview
- Law reform and managing drought: Lessons from BC, California and elsewhere;
- North Salt Spring Waterworks District: The governance aspects of water scarcity; and
- Municipality of North Cowichan: The challenges of basin level water management planning.
Learn more and register now – https://bcwwa.org/component/bcwwa/?task=eventregister&event=3837&Itemid=3
This year at the Mayne Island Annual Spring B&B Operator to Operator Workshop our Facilitator will be Scott Jameson from Jameson Water Services in Victoria.
Topics this year include:
- Chlorination chemistry and hypochlorite safety
- Chlorine dosage calculations
- Water main and reservoir cleaning
- visit to new installations a Mayne Island water districts
This also includes a valuable opportunity during Q&A for well owners and operator to swap info and questions with hands-on certified Small Water Systems Operators in a relaxed and non-committal atmosphere.
Please contact the Mayne Island Integrated Water Systems Society at watersociety@shaw.ca for more information.
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
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE 45th ANNUAL B.C. GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION TRADE SHOW AND CONVENTION!!
On behalf of the B.C. Ground Water Association, I am pleased to invite you to our upcoming Trade Show and Convention at the Coast Kamloops Hotel & Convention Centre in Kamloops from March 1st to 3rd, 2016. Our theme this year is “Groundwater – Our Shared Resource.”
The event will kick-off on Tuesday March 1st with a hands-on workshop on “How to use EWELLS,” and Ministry-led information sessions on the new Ground Water Protection Regulation (sneak previews were offered at our Regional Meetings this fall) and the new Water Sustainability Regulation (including new requirements for groundwater licensing). These regulations will support the new Water Sustainability Act which is expected to come into force in early 2016.
On the morning of Wednesday March 2nd we will be holding our Annual General Meeting (AGM), starting with an energizing breakfast for all AGM participants. This is an important opportunity for members to comment on industry-related issues and developments across the Province, and to define the Association’s priorities for the coming year. This year’s AGM is not to be missed, as we will be (re)electing several members of our Board of Directors and Executive Committee. A members Motion form for corporate members is included in your December Newsletter. If you have an issue which you would like added to the AGM agenda, please fax or mail it to Deborah Lamont at our office.
Wednesday’s luncheon will include a welcoming address from your General Manger, Kathy Tixier, with introductions of the elected BCGWA Board of Directors and Executive. Next, the event will really kick into gear with our 25-boothTrade Show and trade and technical talks. One-on-one instruction on how to use EWELLS will also be offered during the convention. Long coffee breaks will provide opportunities for networking and ruminating over talk materials, as well as visiting the Trade Show area to take in the impressive displays and place a bid (or two or three) at our Silent Auction.
When everyone’s brains are full for the day, join us for a Meet & Greet cocktail hour in the Trade Show area and the announcement of our Silent Auction winners. Festivities will continue at our evening awards Banquet with live entertainment. At this time we will announce the winner of a draw for a full pass to the Canadian Groundwater Conference & Expo 2016 in Niagara Falls in June. All sponsors and Silent Auction contributors are eligible to enter the draw. Be sure to get your name in, and join in on Wednesday evening’s best gig in town!
On Thursday we are pleased to welcome Dr. Diana Allen, professor of hydrogeology Simon Fraser University and acclaimed advocate for sustainable groundwater resource development, to deliver a keynote technical talk on climate change and the hydrologic cycle. Our lunchtime speaker will be Russ Dantu, business coach and top 10 finalist at Toastmaster’s International competition in Las Vegas in 2015. He will entertain and enlighten us on finer points of customer service, business communication, and employee satisfaction.
Please register for the event early (before January 29) to take advantage of discount room prices at the Coast Hotel, and to keep your planning committee in good spirits. Don’t let progress pass you by – see you in March!
Blaine Matuga
President, B.C. Ground Water Association
Come and mingle with like-minded students and industry professionals
The UBC Okanagan’s BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) and Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) Student Chapters are organizing an event to mark World Water Day and support Water For People charity. The event will feature presentations and an informal net working session.
Complimentary snacks & refreshments and a cash bar will be available
Program Schedule
4:00 –4:30 Water For People Charity-What Do We Do? Doug Neden, MEng. WFP-Canada
4:30 –5:20 Water Pricing: A Role of Community? John Janmaat, PhD, UBC Okanagan
5:20 –6:10 Chase Water Treatment Plant: A tale of two sources. Stephen Horsman, PEng, AECOM
6:10 -8:00 Snacks, refreshments and informal networking
The BCWWA hosts technical tours to bring experienced professionals, operators, young professionals, and students together to network and share knowledge.
Join us on April 5, 2016 as we tour the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond, BC. This facility uses resource recovery to generate enough heat and electricity to run the plant and services an estimated 600,000 residents in Vancouver and parts of Burnaby and Richmond.
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 am
Location:1000 Ferguson Road, Richmond, BC
Price: $10 members & students | $25 non-members
Limited capacity – register now by clicking here!
New Westminster operator education classes are open! These courses provide operators with the basic knowledge of water plant components and the methods used, with varying degrees of complexity. Register now for certification or to gain CEUs.
Date: April 11 – 15, 2016
Location: Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3M 1B6
Courses offered:
- Water Treatment 1 – 2.4 CEUs
- Water Treatment 2 – 2.4 CEUs
- Water Distribution 1 – 2.4 CEUs
- Water Distribution 2 – 2.4 CEUs
Register now by Clicking Here!
Celebrating International Women’s Day and Successful Women in the Public Works and Technology Industries
Join us for this educational and inspiring workshop with special guest Linda Robinson. Topics to be discussed include the balancing act of women, dealing with difficult people and more. There is only room for 25 attendees so be sure to register early.
Lunch and coffee will be served. We look forward to seeing you there!
Come celebrate our success as Women in Public Works and Technology!
Celebrating International Women’s Day and Successful Women in the Public Works and Technology Industries
Join us for this educational and inspiring workshop with special guest Linda Robinson. Topics to be discussed include the balancing act of women, dealing with difficult people and more. There is only room for 25 attendees so be sure to register early.
Lunch and coffee will be served. We look forward to seeing you there!
Come celebrate our success as Women in Public Works and Technology!
RESILIENT, RESOURCEFUL, & READY
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event, featuring one of the largest trade shows in Western Canada and two full days of educational and professional development presentations and discussions. This event is intended to facilitate professional development and networking for over 1,250 professionals working in the water industry in BC and the Yukon.