Safety and availability of drinking water tops British Columbians' water-related concerns

BC Water & Waste Association's annual conference examines water security, treatment and distribution, emergency planning and more in Whistler May 3 to 6, 2014

VANCOUVER, April 28, 2014 /CNW/ - British Columbians are more likely than residents in other provinces to witness the increase in consumption of water supplies becoming a more serious issue in their urban community. According to the 2014 RBC Canadian Water Attitudes Study, 79 per cent of British Columbians believe that protecting drinking water sources is their responsibility.

These issues and many more will be discussed and examined by more than 1,200 water and wastewater professionals from across British Columbia and the Yukon at the BC Water & Waste Association's (BCWWA) annual conference - the largest peer-to-peer style conference for the water industry in Western Canada - held this year at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and the Whistler Conference Centre, May 3-6, 2014.

"As populations grow and greater strain is put on water resources and water infrastructure, we need to collaborate on approaches to better planning, funding, as well as preventative measures," says Tanja McQueen, CEO of the 4,700-member BCWWA. "Knowledge sharing and education, through our annual conference, is one of the key ways we work towards our mission to protect public health and the environment in water matters. We discuss timely and topical issues and work towards solutions that our members can take back and apply in their communities."

The conference features technical presentations and seminars, hands-on operations sessions, and networking opportunities with the water community including:

• Keynote address: Lynn Patterson, Director of Corporate Responsibility at RBC on BC's "Watertude", comparing results from across the country in the 2014 Canadian Water Attitudes Study.
• Panel presentations:
• Barry Dinn of Delcan discusses rainwater and flood management  strategy for the Queensborough area of New Westminster
• Lloyd Bie of City of Richmond/Neptune Group shares the results of the voluntary Water Metering Program in Richmond
• Mike Irvine from the City of Vancouver outlines earthquake resilience and the emergency preparedness of Vancouver's water system
• "Best of the Best" tap water taste test: A panel of water professionals will taste and judge drinking water samples from around BC and the Yukon to pick the best tap water in Western Canada.
• Operator Challenge: Water professionals face-off while repairing pump and piping systems.

A full conference program is available here.

The conference also coincides with the start of Drinking Water Week (May 4-10), which challenges BC residents to learn more about their water, including how it is treated and delivered to their homes, and the costs involved with providing high quality and reliable water services. Community members are encouraged to go online and take the Community Water Challenge by selecting one or all of the five simple water wise pledges.

"From reservoir source to tap to drain and back again, we need to think of and understand water as a system and treat it with respect," added McQueen. "Every little bit counts in terms of water use, everyone should be aware of the water they use every day and its value."

About BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA):

The BCWWA is a professional association that represents the people who work every day to keep your water clean and safe - from the source to your tap and back to the source. More information can be found at www.bcwwa.org.

For more information about Drinking Water Week or the Community Water Challenge, and to find out about events in your area, please visit www.drinkingwaterweek.org.

SOURCE: BC Water and Waste Association

Media Contacts

Elisha McCallum, 778-668-0185, [email protected]
Grace Hon, 604-688-2549, [email protected]