Watershed Group encouraging residents to participate in
Provincial Water Strategy Consultations:
The Board of Directors of Wascana and Upper Qu’Appelle Watersheds Association Taking Responsibility (WUQWATR) is encouraging local residents and municipal councils to participate in the recently announced 25 Year Water Strategy Consultations. Deadline for submissions to the consultation is August 31st.
“We are very encouraged that the Province is engaging Saskatchewan people in the development of a long term Water Strategy, ” said WUQWATR Board Chair, Fred Clipsham.” Water security is essential to our long term future, and we welcome a more integrated approach to water management.”
Clipsham also indicated his organization’s general support for the principles and goals laid out in the provincial consultation document, which is available at 25yearplan@swa.ca. ” The principles and goals outlined in the Water Security Plan line up very closely with the recommendations contained in WUQWATR’s local source water protection plan, which was developed by community representatives. This demonstrates that there is a broad consensus in the province about water management issues and solutions,” he stated.
Clipsham noted that some goals in the Strategy Consultation document require strengthening, in particular the role of municipal governments in water management. “Most of our treated water, waste water and storm water management services are provided by municipal governments, and they also have responsibility for water efficiency, conservation and land use controls. WUQWATR believes that the water strategy needs to recognize the important role that our local governments play in water service delivery and water management. There is a clear need for ongoing federal/provincial infrastructure funding to ensure that we can protect and manage our water resources.”
Clipsham also highlighted the need for the plan to address the need
for upgraded conveyance infrastructure, especially the replacement of
the Qu’Appelle Conveyance which provides water to 25% of Saskatchewan’s
population. “Engineers are estimating that water demands on the
Qu’Appelle Conveyance could exceed capacity as soon as 2020″, Clipsham
explained. Our long term water security depends on a plan to make
investments in priority infrastructure.”
The 25 Year Water Strategy Consultation materials are available at
25yearplan@swa.ca. WUQWATR’s position document is available at www.wuqwatr.ca.
WUQWATR is the non-profit water stewardship agency for the Upper
Qu’Appelle and Wascana Watersheds of Saskatchewan, and represents urban
and rural municipalities, affiliated organizations and individuals.
For more information contact WUQWATR at 757-1704 or info@wuqwatr.ca