WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN NOVA SCOTIA

A Framework for Water Resources Management

Provincial lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater, wetlands, and coastal zones have provided and continue to provide economic, recreational and environmental benefits to all Nova Scotians However, enjoyment of these benefits frequently results in conflicts, when one use has the potential to eliminate or curtail another. The implications of these conflicts for the sustainable use of the resource are significant, and in recent years, Nova Scotians have recognized the need for a change in attitude towards the resource and its management.

The challenge is to build on our existing management and regulatory framework to ensure water resources are adequately protected. To do this we must place more emphasis on planning and prevention. We need to identify cost-effective actions responsive to individual and community development needs and resource protection requirements. In turn, we maintain and restore healthy aquatic ecosystems united with sustained opportunity for economic benefit.

Four key issue areas are outlined below:

Improving Water Allocation Among Competing Environmental, Economic, and Social Needs

Water is generally not considered a scarce resource in Nova Scotia in terms of either quality or quantity, however, very dry summers of 1997, 1998, and 1999 created numerous water management problems. Water conservation has been viewed as a desirable rather than necessary activity, an attitude enhanced by the fact that water is often treated as a free good rather than a resource to be valued.

This perspective does not recognize the fact that available sources of water are frequently not co-located with the domestic, agricultural, municipal, industrial and recreational uses requiring them. It does not address the incremental cost of developing and delivering a new water supply to market rather than managing demand to extend the life of an existing supply. Lastly it fails to recognize that in certain watersheds, the current level of use and withdrawal is such that seasonal or periodic failures to meet demand do and will continue to occur.

Protecting Water Resource Quality

Nova Scotians are concerned about the quality of their drinking water and the ability of streams, lakes, estuaries, and coastal embayments to support aquatic life, two issues covered in the 1998 State of the Environment Report.

Water quality protection is necessary not only to protect aquatic ecosystems, but to ensure that a variety of current and potential water uses can be met. This is particularly true in the case of groundwater where the resource is invisible and can be unwittingly compromised. Water quality protection requires a concerted effort that allows definition of use-based water quality objectives, and development of a strong proactive management approach to point and non-point source pollutants. This includes some of Nova Scotia's most damaging pollutants which are not in fact generated within the province. The long range transport of acidifying emissions and heavy metals such as mercury arc serious concerns and must be addressed at the regional, national. and international level.

For point sources of pollution, eg. industries and sewage treatment plants, regulations have been established. Effluent standards related to the receiving water quality can be set. For non-point pollution, such as sediment originating from agriculture, forestry, and land development, such regulatory controls are not available. More effective controls in these cases are related to codes of practice, the application of which is generally voluntary on the part of the landowner. The key is to encourage land owners to prevent potential contaminants reaching the water resource. Water resource stewardship initiatives along riparian zones are an effective vehicle to achieve this.

Integrated Management of Resources

Water quality and quantity are inextricably linked to land use and land-based resource management practice. Fertilizers and sewage disposal contribute to nutrient loading. Subdivision development, forestry operations, and agriculture contribute to changes in flow patterns, sedimentation and stream alteration. Salting of highways can result in the contamination of groundwater. These changes to the water resource limit or eliminate beneficial water uses such as domestic or municipal drinking water supplies, swimming, aquaculture and fish habitat. Impacts are felt locally and downstream. For example, shellfish closures and swimming beach closures occur due to public health concerns related to on-site sewage disposal systems. farmland is eroded due to migrating stream channels and domestic wells become unusable due to salt contamination.

Regulations set an enforceable standard of conduct, but governments cannot and should not regulate ever), individual action. Land owners and managers must be encouraged to recognize and assume stewardship responsibilities which complement the regulatory structure, and promote enhanced environmental protection.

Municipalities retain much of the regulatory authority over land use planning and development under the Municipal Government Act (former Planning Act). This legislation provides an opportunity to control the location. type. density and servicing of development. It provides less opportunity to control long term management of the individual lots, vegetation maintenance or use of chemicals. These activities by the land owners can have significant negative impacts on groundwater and adjacent surface water resources. Again, education and improved awareness are often more useful than additional regulations. Where land owners assume responsible stewardship practices, many negative impacts can be minimised. Complementary regulatory and stewardship initiatives can achieve the sustainable development patterns that Nova Scotians seek.

Not only do water resources require management, they require management on a geographic rather than a sectoral basis. This approach uses the watershed, including groundwater, as the management unit from headwaters to estuary. Watershed management recognises that water flowing downstream creates the linkages between land-based activities and water resource protection by connecting causes and effects.

The province has already developed, in cooperation with municipalities and other stakeholders, statements of provincial interest relevant to water resource management under the Municipal Government Act, as a guide for municipal development planning, eg. flood plain development, and municipal drinking water supply protection.

Partnerships in Water Resource Stewardship

Various provincial departments, federal and municipal agencies, have clearly legislated and defined resource and land management responsibilities which contribute to effective water resource management. Nova Scotians as individuals and communities also have a significant effect on the water resource, but no clear role or responsibility in its sustainable management. The Environment Act provides a vehicle through which Nova Scotians can participate in water resource management.

Community groups can provide critical local input and assistance to government in making water resource management decisions. Many voluntary groups have been complementing the activities of government agencies for years by contributing significantly to monitoring water quality, promoting stewardship initiatives and providing education to the community. The value of this kind of partnership should be recognised to ensure its continuing effectiveness.

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.