Sustainable Rainwater Management in British Columbia: Mimic the Water Balance and Protect Stream Health!

Metro Vancouver elected representatives learn about  inter-regional collaboration

Launched by an inter-governmental partnership in 2003, the web-based Water Balance Model for British Columbia quantifies the effectiveness of green infrastructure in accomplishing two inter-connected goals: reduce a community’s ‘water footprint’; and protect stream health. In January 2012, Metro Vancouver contributed $50,000 to fund further enhancement of the WBM.

“When Kim Stephens met with the Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee to provide us with a progress report on the Water Balance Model and inter-regional collaboration, we were impressed that our $50,000 grant has leveraged $250,000 in cash and in-kind contributions,” states City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto, Chair of the Committee. His municipality was a founding member of the Water Balance Model Partnership in 2002, and is a charter member of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC.

“The Committee learned that the Water Balance Model is a tool available to Metro Vancouver’s members so that they will be able to more effectively and efficiently fulfil their rainwater and stormwater management actions under our region’s IntegratedLiquid Waste and Resource Management Plan.”

“There is no formal mechanism to enable inter-regional collaboration. We also learned that the Partnership is trying to fill this gap by bringing together local governments around the Georgia Basin to advance a consistent approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure practices. Alignment should help everyone reduce risk, improve watershed health and comply with regulatory requirements. The Committee is looking forward to a further update this fall,” concludes Mayor Mussatto.

TO LEARN MORE: To read the complete story, click on MetroVancouver elected representatives learn about the Water Balance Model andInter-Regional Collaboration.