An independent expert has been appointed to oversee the review of pollution in B.C.’s Hullcar Aquifer.

Oliver Brandes, the co-director of the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Global Studies, an independent, respected national water and governance expert has been commissioned to support the review of the pollution. Brandes will provide strategic advice and oversee aspects of the review. He will also lead a team that will make recommendations to Heyman that will ensure that best practices for the agricultural sector are aligned with the goal of ensuring safe, clean drinking water to all British Columbians.

Brandes is also an established technical advisor to the province with respect to the ongoing development and implementation of the Water Sustainability Act. In 2014, he spoke with Water Canada about what was a then recently passed Act and its two important features: “One is it begins to really prioritize ecological and environmental flows, acknowledging that nature is a legitimate user, and in a sense a priority user. The other piece is the way it enables the sharing or delegation of some powers around making critical decisions about water and watersheds.”

The terms of reference for the review have been posted to the ministry’s website and the public are invited to provide input to the review from now until Aug. 31, 2017, by using this link: https://interceptum.com/s/en/HullcarValleyAquifer

The review will be used to inform the development of future regulations and help provide innovative solutions to protect water quality.

Findings from the review will be posted publicly on the ministry’s website: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/site-permitting-compliance/hullcar-aquifer

Follow this link to read Water Canada’s full interview with Brandes.

Oliver Brandes delivered the presentation Walrus Talks Water in 2015.

Cover Photo Credit: the partnership for the water sustainability in bc.

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