Water Sustainability Project (WSP) Partnerships

The WSP has developed a broad network of supporters and partners working collectively towards water sustainability and better water governance in British Columbia and across Canada. The following highlights some of the key projects on which the WSP is working collaboratively with other organizations to develop cutting edge research, public policy, and reach a wider audience to turn research into action.

	POLIS Research Associate David Boyd, Project Leader Oliver M Brandes, and former Researcher Tony Maas helped found the Gordon Water Group of Concerned Scientists and Citizens (GWG) a group of scientists, lawyers, researchers, and policy experts and advisors united by a concern for Canada's freshwater future and committed to providing leadership on a national approach to sustainable water governance and management in Canada. The GWG recently released its first major report Changing the Flow: A Blueprint for Federal Action on Freshwater, and continues to develop additional resources for senior level governments to move towards a national water strategy for Canada.
	Friends of the Earth - Canada in partnership with POLIS, the Arthur Irving institute at Acadia University, and the Environment and Resources studies Department at the University of Waterloo have recently completed the first ever national test study of the water soft path principles and practices anywhere in world. This collaborative research effort produced a variety of outputs (see our Soft Path research theme) and resulted in the formation of the Soft Path Leadership Council -- a cross sector, pan national group of water experts and professionals with a mandate to move soft path concepts into action and develop pilot projects where the theory becomes reality. As a part of this Water Soft Path initiative, POLIS is teaming up with the Grand River Conservation Authority with the goal of turning soft path ideas into on the ground projects.
	Waterlution - A Water Learning Experience emphasizes water-based education and leadership development to engage individuals, organizations and communities in exploring issues facing local and global water supply. WSP Community Water Coordinator Susanne Porter-Bopp will be working with Waterlution to deliver two youth engagement workshops on water issues in British Columbia in 2008.
	The POLIS Water Sustainability Project is an active member of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association's Water Efficiency Network (CWWA-WEN) which works collectively to promote water conservation and develops best practices and cutting edge approaches to the practice of water management in Canada. The CWWA-WEN, together with POLIS, has initiated the planning and development of Canada's 2nd National Water Conservation Conference to be held in the fall of 2008.
	POLIS is a core member of the Leadership Team for Convening for Action Vanvcouver Island (CAVI) -- a regional pilot program that is being implemented under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia. CAVI represents a growing network that includes the British Columbia Water & Waste Association , the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the provincial Ministries of Environment and Community Services, and the Green Infrastructure Partnership, and emphasizes “water-centric” planning and design with a nature approach to water sustainability on Vancouver Island. CAVI provides leadership in water sustainability, education and integration across groups and sectors. In 2008 CAVI will continue with its “showcasing innovations” series. See the CAVI charter here.
	Water Sustainability Project leader Oliver M Brandes has been re-appointed to the Water Advisory Committee of the Regional Water Supply Commission -- Capital Regional District and is promoting application of the Soft Path approach and emphasizing a local commitment to "no new water" by offsetting all future water demands through conservation, water reuse and rainwater harvesting.
	The POLIS Water Sustainability Project is a core academic partner in 3 separate Canadian Water Network initiatives that will commence in 2008 and are expected to run through 2012: •  A Canadian Water Security Index led by Karen Bakker of the University of British Columbia; •  Governance for Watershed-Based Source Water Protection in Canada: A National Assessment led by Rob de Loë of University of Guelph; •  More Value from the Same Water: Maximizing Water's Sustainable Contribution to the Canadian Economy led by professors Diane Dupont and Steven Renzetti of Brock University.

Past Projects back to top>>

WSP teamed up with the BCWWA Water Sustainability Committee's Convening for Action in the South Okanagan and with Smart Growth on the Ground to emphasize water conservation as a core consideration in a sustainable growth strategy. As a part of this initiative a variety of briefing notes and presentations were created, resulting in the development of a Greater Oliver Development Plan. This water conservation message was picked up by the Okanagan Water Basin Board (a regional organization with strong local government representation) and in the regional growth plan, and has directly influenced the Town of Oliver's development of a water conservation plan.