It’s a no brainer. Yet it persists as an issue with local government leaders.

Each community in the East Kootenay looks to its water source with a half-held breath, because there is always something somewhere going on.

Whether it is provincial or federal government rules changes in the middle of the game or surprise infrastructure howdy-doos, water coming and out is a formidable challenge and cost.

Providing a safe source of water should be the hallmark of every incorporated entity and is with local governments in this region.

The ‘finding’ and ‘providing’ of water, with sometimes massive costs involved, is a crowning achievement in the growth of a community. It allows for some sustained growth and continued health.

We go about our lives assuming our water source is safe because ‘let’s face it,’ we say, ‘there’s no way THEY would allow anything to happen.’

But things can and do happen in watersheds, especially when there are so many, mostly understaffed, provincial agencies bumping into one another in hallways but not sharing information on drainages they are each working in.

“This is an issue for most communities in B.C. Often there are three or four provincial ministries in control of watersheds – but the municipality is liable for anything happening. Municipalities need to have a say on what is happening in their own watersheds,” stated City of Cranbrook councilor Diana J. Scott during the regular meeting of council June 27.

Coun. Scott brought up the watershed issue because of a cry for watershed protection coming from the Sunshine Coast Regional District, which has long dealt with several severe watershed scraps, from the Gray and Chapman Creek water courses to the entire Tetrahedron watershed.

Water is our singularly most important natural resource but Canadians, the greatest wasters of water in the world, still don’t seem to get the urgency when it comes preserving and protecting that most vital of life’s needs.

The issue needs to be attacked on several levels, beginning with in our school systems, where greater emphasis must be placed on the diverse importance of water – all the way up to our senior levels of government.

A great way for the senior government levels (provincially) to ensure finer focus is being cast over our watersheds is to give the municipalities that hold water licenses more power to ensure their highest priority is preserved.

So come on Victoria – stay up late, order pizza and donuts, discard jackets with political stripes and knuckle down on some new legislation that will give the municipalities what they need.

Ian Cobb

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