THE OUTLOOK: NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

With thanks to input from Ed Kaufhold and Martin Goebel, a description of current issues and positive actions follows.

Other water issues surround the off-shore oil industry. Many years of offshore and onshore studies preceded the actual commencement of Hibernia, with meticulous attention to necessary coastal area protection, and the provision of environmentally acceptable water and sewage systems for the coastal communities affected by Hibernia. A new environmental process is now envisioned for the offshore Terra Nova site as expansion of the offshore oil industry occurs.

Government's concern is not merely limited to protecting Newfoundland's sparsely settled coastline from the environmental impact of offshore oil activities. Continuing growth and development on the entire Avalon peninsula has gradually introduced another level of concern -the potential effects of residential and industrial growth on the coastal shoreline. The next step will likely involve the preparation of a proposal for government's consideration.

Newfoundland now relies quite confidently on Crown Land Reservation rights vested in the province through historic legislation that, in effect, creates a 15-metre buffer along all freshwater shores. Government uses this "buffer zone" as an environmental control feature to protect the waterfront development projects.

One of the issues that the province is currently working on is the problem of THM's in community drinking water supplies. About one-third of the public water supply (community) systems now appear have THM readings that exceed the maximum set by Canada's drinking water standards. Without getting into scientific detail, TIM is the abbreviation for Trihalomethane, produced by a chemical process that occurs when water with high organic content is subjected to chlorine treatment. Careful monitoring and study will determine the full extent of this issue in Newfoundland's communities and the actions required to address it.

Finally, another water issue which is no stranger to any province in Canada, is the need for effective sewage treatment to clean up the effluent entering streams and harbours. In Newfoundland, the major concern that has been expressed is in regard to insufficiently treated effluent from the capital region's sewage. Government will be assigning staff to assist municipal sewage treatment plant operators in various ways to improve sewage treatment in all areas. Although resources may be somewhat limited in the short term, the judicious use of advice, guidelines, pilot projects and the like will begin to address the issue of poorly treated effluent entering the province's waters, and will produce measurable improvements over time.

In Throne Speech 2000 the people of Newfoundland and Labrador were reminded of the Province's vision and intent for its water resources, paraphrased in part as follows:

VISION: Newfoundlanders and Labradorians love the land. The people have a deep and abiding affection for this rocky outcropping in the Atlantic Ocean. They have forged a passionate relationship with the storm-tossed seas which batter the shores, the rich coves and bays of their roots, the dense forests, verdant fields, cloud-topped mountains, and berry-laden barrens and bogs that form the tapestry of their land

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador declares and affirms access to public lands and water bodies for recreational use including hunting, angling and the gathering of wild foods. For those purposes the Province's citizens will have clear and open access to a buffer zone around lakes, ponds and rivers.

POLICY: Government ensures that water bodies are not privatized and that all residents of the Province have equal access to them. Different river systems are best managed according to their particular requirements. Government seeks public input on proposed watershed management plans and programs. No organization wishing to participate in the management process is denied the opportunity, provided it is willing to act within the ground rules established for such matters.

In the meanwhile, water resources management involves the following well-established programs:

Community Water & Wastewater

reviews applications for environmental approval for new community water and sewage systems extensions and alterations-, assists in the assessment of community water and sewage needs; investigates community water and sewage complaints-, develops policies, regulations, and guidelines for the design, construction and operation of waterworks and sewage works; carries out water pollution monitoring programs; maintains an inventory of water and sewer systems; and; administers a voluntary operator certification program.

Groundwater

administers the Well Drilling Act and regulations under the Act-, issues well driller's licenses; conducts water well inspections; maintains a groundwater well observation network, plans and implements the wellhead protection program; develops policies and guidelines concerning groundwater resources-, conducts groundwater investigations and studies; and, maintains databases of drilled water wells and groundwater quality.

Hydrologic Modelling

develops, evaluates and implements computcr-based techniques and methodologies required for water resource management; performs comprehensive hydrologic analysis, adapts appropriate hydrologic hydrodynamic models to watersheds, and develops technical guidelines and policies for water resources management; implements hydrologic database management systems; incorporates Geographic Information System and remote sensing technology into the Division's activities-, operates and maintains a system to acquire near real-time streamflow and climate data from remote river gauging stations via satellite-, and operates, maintains and upgrades the Flood Forecast Centre.

Atlantic Planners Institute

This page and all contents are produced by the Atlantic Planners Institute, an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

This document was last modified on November 15, 2000.