METRO VANCOUVER \u2014 Metro Vancouver has adopted an updated Drinking Water Management Plan, which sets out how it will respond to climate change, population growth and aging infrastructure.<\/p>\n
A key advancement in this updated plan is the focus on water conservation, states a release.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time, the plan outlines a regional target to keep per-person water use to a maximum of 320 litres per day by 2035 \u2014 a shared benchmark that everyone can work toward,\u201d it reads. \u201cIn 2023, Metro Vancouverites used 384 litres of drinking water per person per day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan lays out the following priorities and actions:<\/p>\n
Strengthen system resilience to earthquakes and extreme weather.
\nMaintain and renew aging infrastructure.
\nPlan responsibly for continued population growth.
\nOptimize how we use existing infrastructure.
\nAdvance conservation and encourage uptake of metering by member jurisdictions.
\nProtect source waters and environmental health.
\nBuild and retain the expertise needed to manage and operate a complex regional system.<\/p>\n
More than 60,000 people from across the region provided input through surveys, events, workshops and review sessions, helping to shape the plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe feedback we heard during this collaborative process showed us that we were on the right track \u2014 particularly around conservation, environmental protection, drought preparedness, and long-term resilience,\u201d said Brad West, chair of Metro Vancouver\u2019s Water Committee, in a statement. \u201cThis plan will help us manage risk and ensure we can reliably deliver high-quality drinking water for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n