4.5 Other Organizations

Many other organizations have important roles to play when it comes to water. The following are some of these organizations and their roles and responsibilities in water management and planning:

Industry

• includes hydroelectricity, agriculture, ranching, forestry, mining, oil and gas, transportation, manufacturing and a variety of other businesses;
• relies on water as a vital component of production; and,
• develops plans, policies, procedures and practices regarding water use, efficiency and wastewater for individual business operations.

BC Hydro

• is licensed to use the largest amount of surface water in the province, with operations that depend on reliable, carefully managed water supplies;
• works to reduce the need to expand hydropower operations by encouraging consumer energy conservation; and,
• develops Water Use Plans, which modify hydropower dam operations to mitigate their impact on downstream fish habitat and other values.

Academic Institutions

• conduct critical research on topics such as water quality and quantity, impacts of climate change, watershed functioning, groundwater and aquifer function, governance policy, demand management; and,
• provide education and training to future water managers.

Professional Associations

• Provide policy advice, planning support, technical support, knowledge sharing and a wide range of services related to water planning, management, and operations (e.g. BC Water and Wastewater Association, the BC Ground Water Association, and the Canadian Water Resources Association, geo scientists, engineers, planners, biologists, geographers and many other professionals.

Community Organizations and Individuals

• provide vital services through outreach, conservation, restoration of source water, and maintenance or restoration of aquatic habitat;
• are enabled to take greater responsibility for water stewardship through new, collective shared stewardship approaches; and,
• work to advance sustainability across local and regional watersheds, help resolve stakeholder conflicts and educate the public about water issues.