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ARTICLE · 29 OCTOBER 2013

BC Government’s Proposed "Water Sustainability Act" May Provide Certainty For Hydro Power Projects

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On Friday, October 18, 2013, the BC government released its legislative proposal for a new "Water Sustainability Act".

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Joshua Walters
Joshua Walters
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On Friday, October 18, 2013, the BC government released its legislative proposal for a new Water Sustainability Act. The proposed legislation is intended to update and replace the existing Water Act and comprehensively modernize provincial water laws. The current Water Act is commonly criticized for failing to regulate groundwater usage and provide adequate protections for water security, stream health and aquatic environments.

The BC government has been actively considering updating the province's water legislation since 2009. Since beginning its consultative process, the province has received over 2,250 written submissions and engaged directly with a number of interested parties. The proposed Water Sustainability Act was developed based on feedback received in recent years and will be revised as a result of input received during the current consultation period. The government intends to introduce the final version of the legislation in the legislature in 2014.

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