Hullcar Valley Aquifer
Engagement Summary
On August 2, 2017, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman announced an independent review of the Hullcar Aquifer with the goal of ensuring practices from the agricultural sector are aligned the provision and protection of clean, safe drinking water for all British Columbians.
The review of the Hullcar Aquifer situation is meant to inform the development of new approaches and inform future decisions around agricultural waste management specifically in the Hullcar Valley as well as have benefits to other areas of British Columbia where there are threats to drinking water from neighbouring agricultural waste management activities.
In addition to the feedback forms completed, 43 interviews were conducted with both public and private sector participants. Including perspectives from citizens, agricultural producers, and professionals who are impacted by the nitrate pollution in the Hullcar Valley was important for building a better understanding of the issue.
An independent reviewer, Dr. Oliver Brandes, led the review with a team from the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance.
The POLIS Recommendations Report “From Crisis to Solutions: Towards Better Source Water Protection and Nutrient Management in the Hullcar Valley” has been received by government and along with all of the government documents produced to inform the Review and can be found on the Hullcar Aquifer Information Site.
Timeframe:
August 17 – September 8, 2017
Input received:
- 78 online feedback forms completed
- 43 stakeholder interviews
Input leads to action:
The final report lists nine sets of recommendations with the goals of improving the soil nitrate balance and restoring the aquifer to acceptable nitrate levels in the Hullcar Valley; and regulatory mechanisms to help prevent a similar situation from occurring in other drinking water aquifers in British Columbia.
In addition to the feedback forms completed, 43 interviews were conducted with both public and private sector participants. Including perspectives from citizens, agricultural producers, and professionals who are impacted by the nitrate pollution in the Hullcar Valley was important for building a better understanding of the issue. The stakeholder input informed the POLIS Review and were taken into consideration for shaping the recommendations in the final report.