News and Events

Uncharted Waters: Connecting Academia and Activism on Water Issues

Uncharted Waters is an interdisciplinary conference that aims to bridge the gap between academia and activism, connecting youth to those already dedicated to working towards the necessary solutions for a water soft path future. WSP Community Water Coordinator Susanne Porter-Bopp will be delivering a workshop on the history of water management in Canada and how we can move toward the soft path at this unique 3-day student-led conference on water issues in Montreal, March 26th-28th, 2010. Register for the conference here.

The Water Policy and Watershed Governance Seminar Series

The Water Policy and Watershed Governance Seminar Series hosted by Institute for Coastal Research in partnership with the POLIS WSP being lead by Dr Rod Dobell and Oliver M Brandes. The Initial two presentations can be viewed here and covered issues on water oolicy and governance research.

Save Energy - Shower With a Friend!

Check out our latest water-energy article in Alternatives' New Energy Issue.

Review of "Making the Most of the Water We Have"

A review of "Making the Most of the Water We Have" can be found in the Environmental Forum 2010 January/February issue.

Book Review

Reform of BC's Water Act - NGO Statement sent to BC Ministry of Environment

This document answers the call of the Premier of British Columbia for citizens to become part of the solution for securing our water future.

Output Report Available for POLIS/Waterlution workshop on Agriculture and Water in the Okanagan Valley, September 11th-13th, 2009

WSP co-hosted a workshop for students, growers and young professionals on agriculture and water in the South Okanagan Valley September 11th-13th, 2009.

Okanagan output report

Awash With Potential: Ontario's Provincial Water Conservation and Efficiency Strategy

This article published in Canadian Water Treatment magazine's Nov/Dec 2009 issue highlights key policy opportunities to ensure Ontario becomes a leader in water conservation.

Working Lunch: "BC's Living Water Smart Policy: Is It Smart for Canada?"

The Institute for Research on Public Policy hosted a working lunch to discuss national water policy and BC’s water plan with presentations by Oliver M Brandes and other water experts.

FLOW Monitor

The WSP team contributed to the inaugural edition of the FLOW Monitor -- a regular bulletin by the Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW).

Canadian Water Treatment Magazine September/October 2009

Check out two articles by the Water Sustainability Project team in the September/October 2009 Issue of the Canadian Water Treatment Magazine.

A Tale of Three Cities: New Water Infrastructure in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego

The Water Sustainability Project at POLIS has released a new case study of three important cities in California as part of the “New Water Infrastructure” research theme.

Water Conservation Planning Workshop Series

In partnership with FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, Friends of the Earth Canada and the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance are offering workshops in 2009–2010 to equip municipal water practitioners with the practical tools they need to develop effective water conservation plans in their communities. Contact WSP Outreach Coordinator at hendriks.elizabeth@gmail.com for details.

Soft Path Pilot Project Released!

The Water Sustainabilty Project recently released a Soft Path Strategy for the City of Abbotsford and District of Mission in August 2009. This is the first report from the field on our soft path pilot project programme which aims to develop leading examples of urban water management in Canada and to use lessons learned to explore how best to address the laws and institutions to enable widespread adoption.

Setting a New Course in British Columbia - Water Governance Reform Options and Opportunities

A detailed policy discussion paper developed for the provincial government outlining various options and opportunities for water (and watershed) governance reform in British Columbia.

Output Report for Waterlution/POLIS Watershed Planning and Community Engagement Workshop, April 24th-26th, 2009

WSP co-hosted a workshop for students and young professionals on watershed planning and community engagement in the Comox Valley from April 24-26, 2009.

Waterlution Comox April 2009 Output Report

H2Ontario: A Blueprint for a Comprehensive Water Conservation Strategy

A policy position paper by Carol Maas urging the provincial government to adopt the necessary actions for Ontario to become a water conservation leader.

Public Trust Doctrine-Potential in Canadian Water and Environmental Management

A discussion paper by Ralph Pentland reviewing and outlining the potential for the Public Trust Doctrine in Canadian water and environmental management.

Survey Shows Politicians Failing Public by Ignoring BC Water Crisis

A survey by Ecojustice, a leading a group of B.C. water experts urges politicians to address the public’s well-founded concerns about water safety and shortages.

Greenhouse Gas and Energy Co-Benefits of Water Conservation

A report submitted submitted to Ontario Ministers of Environment, Energy and Infrastructure, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Natural Resources, Aboriginal Affairs by WSP Innovation and Technology Director Carol Maas

Project Objectives

» Examine emerging national water issues, including a survey of best practices in soft path and demand-side management in Canada and abroad;
» Develop innovative governance options that embed sustainable water management in all levels of government, including "watershed governance" as an alternative to current centralized, hierarchical and sectoral governance approaches;
» Advance water law reforms and policy decision-making tools that promote sustainable water management, long-term integrative planning, and institutional change that enables ecologically based water allocations;
» Create a national network of experts and others interested in the new paradigm of sustainable water management to contribute to and use these models as practical tools for policy and institutional change;
» Increase public awareness around the importance, and limits, of water in Canada, thereby ensuring that WSP objectives are met as part of a larger cultural change.

Features

About the Project

The Water Sustainability Project (WSP) began in 2003 at the University of Victoria's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance in British Columbia, Canada.

The WSP recognizes that water scarcity is largely a social dilemma that cannot be solved by technical innovations alone. Instead this crisis of governance must be addressed through new integrated approaches to water management and decision-making that embeds the notion of ecological sustainability in government, business and industry, and civil society.

By focusing on fundamental governance issues such as long-term comprehensive watershed based planning, decision making, innovative institutional and ecosystem-based legal reforms, the WSP seeks to establish a new water paradigm based on conservation, stewardship and sustainability. To address this challenge the project is divided into three core research themes crucial to a sustainable water future:

» Water Conservation & The Soft Path
» Water-Energy Nexus
» Law, Policy & Governance

As a critical aspect of this initiative the WSP continues to develop innovative legal, institutional and practical approaches that embody the principles of ecological governance. Our work provides the foundation for a comprehensive legal and policy framework for sustainable water management and is complemented by detailed action plans for federal, provincial and municipal governments in Canada.