Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Salt Spring Island Water Council. 2010. Salt Spring Island Potable Water Supply and Demand Analysis, Draft Report. Salt Spring Island Water Council. |
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| Organization | Salt Spring Island Water Council |
| URL | http://ssiwatercouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WC-POTABLE-WATER-SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND-ANALYSIS-DraftReport.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | The purpose of this analysis is to consolidate all existing information on current and projected potable water supply and demand on Salt Spring Island in order to assist the Islands Trust and Capital Regional District (CRD) make more informed decisions, both with respect to future density and potable water delivery. In addition, a public workshop is proposed to discuss the results of this analysis, implications for future availability and quality of island water resources and potential impact on land use planning policies and decisions. This analysis does not address water quality issues except to acknowledge that poor quality water clearly affects available supply and use by humans and animals. The role of regulatory agencies in potable water supply is considered, noting the complex array of federal, provincial and local jurisdictions involved. The proposed modernization of the BC Water Act is underway and may resolve some of the jurisdictional and water management concerns. Surface water sources account for 80% of total water supply and, of that amount, 75% is managed by the North Salt Spring Waterworks District, confirming its key role in the delivery of potable water on the island. Accordingly, the analysis is focused on the NSSWD current and future supply and demand situation. For planning purposes, a long-term forecast model was developed to project expected future water demands for the St. Mary and Maxwell Lakes delivery system under existing licence limits and different demand scenarios. A base case is included for discussion purposes, which indicates surplus capacity for at least the next 10 years barring any major disruptive events or major drought conditions. The implications of various drought events is considered in an update report by Bob Watson, NSSWD trustee Updates are provided on current water supply and demand for all fifteen community water systems on Salt Spring and attention is drawn to the imprecise metering and limited end-use data on which to base a more complete analysis. Build-out forecasts for residential, commercial and institutional users provided earlier by the Islands Trust also need validation. This draft report summarises the results of the analysis and provides conclusions and recommendations for further consideration. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | South Gulf Islands |
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