March 29, 2024

Tighter regulation needed on water use, report says

B.C.’s water supply may be under more threat than we think, so the government needs to take action, says a new study released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Analyst Ben Parfitt says the province has to tighten its reporting requirements for water use, and charge more for it. "We’ve got a population that is continuing to … [Read more...]

VEF – Clean Water – A Look At How Industry Is Adopting Clean Water Technologies, November 20th

On November 20th our panel will be a mix of small technology companies and large industrial players that are adopting new Clean Water technologies. They will focus on some of the newer applications and look at why technology is being adopted, new business models and what impact it has on major industries. VEF is currently finalizing panel members … [Read more...]

Water shut off at water parks

It's the long weekend, but families in east and south Vancouver won't have access to water parks. The City of Vancouver shut off the water three weeks ago in those areas. Coalition of Progressive Electors Executive Director Sean Antrim says it's a blow to low-income families. "There's a lot of people that can't afford to go away this long weekend. … [Read more...]

Water levels in lower Fraser expected to rise

Thousands of people are on evacuation alert throughout the province, with 165 receiving orders to evacuate their homes, and that number could grow. Water levels are expected to rise in the Lower Fraser as built up water from melting snow and heavy rain works its way downstream, according to River Forecast Centre Head, David Campbell. "We are … [Read more...]

Rainfall, snowmelt could bring high water levels higher

Officials with BC's River Forecast Centre have their eyes glued to water levels this weekend. Heavy rain is in the forecast. High streamflow warnings have been issued for almost all of upper BC -- from the upper Fraser down to the Kootenary and upper Columbia rivers. Dave Campbell with the forecast centre says river levels are especially high not … [Read more...]

If water safety matters to you, go to the meeting

An emergency town hall meeting in Kits Thursday night will look to rally people against the Coast Guard cuts and closing of the Base.  West Coast Fisheries and Oceans critic Fin Donnelly says people are angry, especially when it comes to replacing highly trained Coast Guard with volunteers, "And I think that is just unacceptable and Coast … [Read more...]

Good grades for BC’s drinking water

You can drink a toast to BC's drinking water.     A new report by Provincial Health Officer Doctor Perry Kendall finds improvement in drinking water systems around the province between 2007 and 2009. Kendall says there were no community outbreaks of water-borne illness during that period, and one thousand more water systems … [Read more...]

A downtown building has been damaged and workers sent home after a water pipe burst.

Massive flooding caused chaos at a downtown Vancouver highrise this morning.  Some time overnight, a pipe burst on the 18th floor  of the 32 storey Bentall Tower at Burrard and Dunsmuir, which houses several law firms and the Bank of Montreal.  Several hundred workers were sent home because the power has been shut off below the 18th … [Read more...]

Small town with big water

Officials are hoping the rain holds off Friday in the small BC town of Tulameen so they can get control of rising floodwaters. Dale Kronebusch, with the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District, says an evacuation alert has been issued for the town north of Princeton with about 270 households, "We're pretty much at the mercy of mother nature. So we … [Read more...]

Trustees in hot water over video

The Vancouver School Board has passed a motion to reaffirm its support for its ant-homophobia policy and to censure Trustees Ken Denike and Sophia Woo for spreading mis-information about the policy. Denike says in all his years as a trustee he has never been accused of homophobia. He says his attempt to keep parents informed has resulted in the … [Read more...]