OUTLOOK ON P.E.I.'S WATER

With thanks to the assistance of Island Information Services, the following briefly summarizes Prince Edward Island's current situation.

In P.E.I. the last decade before the millennium has seen a great deal of fine-tuning in all of the programs and regulations that impinge on the broad area of water resource management. The result is safer wells and septic tanks, new and improved central sewage collection and treatment systems, more central water supply services, fewer ruptured underground fuel tanks, more wildlife conservation areas, less erosion in farms and road-building, and less crowding in summer cottage neighbourhoods and tourist sites.

Early in the last decade, GIS technology and mapping began to make a significant impact on water resource management in all of its aspects from field records to municipal piped services. The province-wide computer records of well construction and water quality monitoring that existed prior to the 1990's are vastly enhanced by the application of GIS.

Another 1990's innovation, the Canada/PEI Infrastructure Works program, over a period of several years enabled many improvements and critical repairs to water and sewerage systems in communities throughout the province. All of these contributed in some measure to better water quality in the province.

On the negative side during this same decade, some of the most alarming fish kills were reported and documented. They happened as a result of agricultural runoff and chemical spills. These calamities severely tested the vigilance of the province's environmental protection team, and served to highlight the urgency of further protective actions.

In its continued drive toward better management of its water resources, the provincial government put forward some totally new environmental protection measures. The province has come to terms with the hard fact that much of the mainstream economic activity of the province has the potential to hurt the environment. The new protective measures are clearly intended and designed to generate greater respect for the environment in such activities. New provisions are summarized as follows:

-The province adopted a comprehensive coastal area policy that implements the protection of all shorelines, beaches, dunes and wetlands through strict environmental "green" buffering and development standards. -Environmental buffer zones were established around watercourses in the province. -Guidelines were made for monitoring the quality of drinking water by operators of central water supply systems.

-20 and 30 metre stream buffer zones were established for forestry. -A public education program was launched to Further reduce oil spills From home heating oil tanks. -New guidelines for manure management were adopted. -Agricultural runoff standards were adopted. -Substantial areas of additional wetlands have been identified for protection

It's not over yet. But it's beginning to add up!

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.