Kelsey, Kim A., "A Review of Water Management in Nova Scotia"

Water is one of our most valuable resources and is an essential component of both manmade and natural environments. Unfortunately, over 80% of the municipal water supplies in Nova Scotia have quality or quantity limitations sometime throughout the year. Some water-related problems arise from natural causes, however, many occur as a result of careless land based activities.

Watershed planning has been touted as the best method of managing water resources, but this type of planning is complex and time consuming and should involve many different stakeholders. Nongovernment organizations in Nova Scotia are attempting to protect water resources and undertake watershed management, often without the support of local councils, while many municipalities in this province are not protecting water resources as they should be, through watershed management, incorporation of appropriate policies and land use by-laws into their planning strategies and designation of their water supplies as Protected Water Areas.

This thesis reviews the legislative and non-legislative aspects of water management and, in particular, watershed planning in Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada. Ontario has a very comprehensive system in place for watershed management. Several books published by the Ontario government are very recent and it will be interesting to see how this structure is implemented in the coming years. The Ontario publications emphasize the value of protecting water resources not only for domestic uses, but for the health of all natural ecosystems. Other provinces' management practices stress the protection of water resources solely for domestic use.

This thesis provides recommendations and an action plan for the managers directly involved in Nova Scotia water management and encourages the incorporation of water management in the curriculum of relevant educational programs.