PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: YEARS IN THE MAKING

Thirty or forty years back, Prince Edward Island already enjoyed the dubious distinction of being the most densely populated province in Canada. This fact, combined with the knowledge that groundwater was (and always would be) the only substantial and practical source of domestic water supply, served to keep PEI respectful of its water resources. As the province gradually evolved from a dominantly rural to a more urban-oriented society that respect continued.

A good many of Prince Edward Island's urban communities received their first substantial leg up the ladder of good water resource management during the 15- year span of the P. E. I. Development Plan, which was drafted, negotiated and signed with Ottawa in the late 1960's. The Development Plan was a comprehensive federal-provincial agreement, designed to bring lasting physical and socioeconomic benefits to Islanders in every part of the province. It was through the Development Plan, and the generous federal funding that accompanied it, that a large proportion of the towns and villages of the Island scored their first environmental achievements, perhaps without fully realizing what the long-term benefits would mean to them.

The province had first created a Water Authority with a broad mandate to study and protect the groundwater resources of the entire province. An in-house hydrogeologist was assigned the scientific tasks and civil engineers were assigned the regulatory and design chores. Land use planners were given various planning and implementation tasks. Early attention was given to the groundwater resources for the largest urban places: Charlottetown and Summerside were entering a period of quick growth and development. Strategies were made to ensure that the well fields were fully appraised, defined and protected, and that central sewage systems were upgraded and sewage treatment systems were designed and built. That strategic framework, now more than 30 years old, formed the basis for what exists in the amalgamated cities of Summerside and Charlottetown today.

At the same time, outlying towns and villages were studied to determine the extent of untreated sewage entering streams and beaches, and also to document the techniques of well construction and the extent Of groundwater pollution. Towns and villages were encouraged to install central sewage collection and treatment systems to reduce the longer-term risk of groundwater contamination from malfunctioning septic tanks. With Development Plan subsidies, the majority of the small urban places were able to make the necessary infrastructure improvements.

The province also made hydrogeological determinations that groundwater supplies would be adequate for the foreseeable future. To ensure that groundwater would be safe for future generations, three further actions were also taken as follows: 1) Well-drilling standards were set and well licensing/permit systems were established; 2) On-site sewage disposal system standards were set and permit systems were established, and 3) Underground petroleum storage system standards were set and permit systems were established

The standards that were set were applied across the province, to ensure that rural homes and seasonal cottages near the beach would be as environmentally secure as homes and businesses in town.

While groundwater research and the development of protective measures were under way, other branches of government's environmental agency were taking a careful look at the province's streams, wetlands, shores and farm fields. An active water monitoring program began to reveal various problem areas and to suggest strategies for protective features such as erosion management, runoff control, and preservation of streams, coastal areas and wetlands. At the same time, development pressures, changing farm practices, cottages and tourism were all working against the environment. Protective programs were generated early to deal with the most pressing problems only. Coastal area protection, shoreline buffer zones and environmentally friendly farming practices would come later.

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.