BILL M 235 – 2007
DRINKING WATER PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2007

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 31 of the Drinking Water Protection Act, S.B.C. 2001, c. 9 is amended in subsection (1) by:

(1) The Provincial health officer may, by order made on the recommendation of a drinking water officer, designate an area for the purpose of developing a drinking water protection plan for the area.

2 Section 31 (2) is amended in paragraph (a) by:

(a) based on monitoring or assessment of results, the Provincial health officer is satisified that a drinking water protection plan will assist in addressing or preventing a threat to drinking water that the Provincial health officer considers may result in a drinking water health hazard.

3 Section 31 (2) (b) is deleted.

4 Section 31 is amended in subsection (3) by:

(3) The Provincial health officer must consider whether to make an order under this section if requested by a drinking water officer.

5 Section 32 is amended in subsection (1) by:

(1) The Provincial health officer may, by order, establish the process by which a proposed drinking water protection plan for a designated area is to be developed.

6 Section 32 (2) is amended in paragraph (b) by:

(b) establish the terms of reference for the plan, or authorize the preparation of some or all of the terms of reference subject to approval by the Provincial health officer, and

7 Section 32 (4) is amended in paragraph (a) by:

(a) whether changes are required in land and water use within the watershed, including tree harvesting, agricultural uses, industrial, commercial or residential development or other uses.

8 Section 32 (4) is amended in paragraph (c) by:

(c) consideration of the economic and social costs and benefits of addressing risks through source protection or other means.

9 Section 32 is amended in subsection (7) by:

(7) The Provincial health officer may, by order, extend the time for completing a proposed drinking water protection plan whether or not the time previously set has expired.

10 Section 33 (1) is amended in paragraph (a) by:

(a) order a water supplier, forest harvesting company or land development company to participate in the process.

11 Section 34 is amended in subsection (1) by:

(1) After a proposed plan has been prepared it must be submitted to the Provincial health officer for review.