Toward the development of northern water standards presentation to the MVLWB December 5, 2007 Kathleen Racher Water Resources Division.

Toward the development of northern water standards

presentation to the MVLWBDecember 5, 2007

Kathleen Racher Water Resources Division

Auditor General’s Report 2005The audit… “examined how well INAC has managed its responsibilities for the process set out in the MVRMA for the development of non-renewable resources in the NWT.”

One recommendation…“INAC, in consultation with the boards under the MVRMA, should develop standards for water and the Minister should direct the boards to use the standards.”

INAC Response: Providing proponents with greater certainty

1. Ascertain the information needs of water users (with respect to water standards used by the boards to set licence terms and conditions).

2. In consultation with the boards, develop water standards and set them out in codes, guidelines, policy, or regulations as best fits the need.

What do we need with respect to water standards and in what form?

“Toward the development of northern water standards: review and evaluation of

approaches for managing water use in northern Canada”

-Macdonald Environmental Sciences Ltd, 2007

Discussion Paper: Towards the development of northern water standards

1. Evaluate existing approaches to water management in the NWT

2. Review approaches used by other jurisdictions

3. Propose several possible options to address Auditor General’s concerns

4. For each option, outline a process for implementation

Factors considered in setting effluent quality criteria in existing licences

Properties of the industry:•Volume of waste-water•Contaminant types•Best available treatment technologies

Properties of the water body:•Baseline conditions •Natural animal and plant species•Volume, shape, flow

Lake

Water quality objectives:What residents said they wanted the water quality to be at specific locations

Option 1: Establish Uniform Water Quality Objectives for the NWT

Natural water

quality

Protect drinking

water use

Protect aquatic

life

Use-protectionapproach

Non-degradationapproach

1) 2)

Much more research required

Factors considered in setting effluent quality criteria in existing licences

Properties of the industry:•Volume of waste-water•Contaminant type•Best available treatment technologies

Properties of the water body:•Baseline conditions •Natural animal and plant species•Volume, shape

Lake

Water quality objectives:What residents said they wanted the water quality to be at specific locations

Option 2: Establish Industry-Specific Effluent Quality Criteria

Based on an analysis of the best “practical” treatment technologies of each industry type.

e.g., Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

However, this analysis has not yet been done for:•Diamond mining•Quarrying•Oil and gas developments•Municipal developments

Discussion Paper: Towards the development of northern water standards

Option 1: Establishing uniform water quality objectives

Option 2: Establishing industry-specific effluent quality criteria.

Option 3: Establish a process or procedure for defining the above that can be consistently applied but on a case-by-case basis

Option 3: Establish a Framework for Deriving and Applying Project-Specific

Effluent Quality Criteria

Long Range Vision for Water Quality

Water Quality Policy(To clearly articulate what factors will be considered in

the final decision making)

Best Technology

(where “best” is what is possible? feasible?

affordable?

Water Quality Objective

(to protect all aquatic life? drinking water?)

(dilution zone?)

And/Or

Utility of a Water Quality Policy: Example

Best Practices

End of pipe limits

Water quality objectives

National water quality

guidelines (e.g., CCME)

Panel of Industry

Experts: what is feasible?

Protection of Aquatic Life

Development of a Water Quality Policy to Guide Decision Making

• Water quality objective:• protect aquatic life (at a minimum)• minimize contamination

• Best practices and/or treatment technology:• consider what is possible• understand what is feasible• balance cost to proponent with benefit to

environment

Articulate: the balance we want to strike between economic development and environmental

protection

Where to from here?

“In consultation with the boards, develop water standards and set them out in codes,

guidelines, policy, or regulations as best fits the need.”

Steps?• Distribute discussion paper• INAC offers to meet with individual

Boards to discuss options• Tell us what option(s) you favour • Have a formal collective discussion at next

Board forum

Questions?

David LivingstoneIndian and Northern AffairsNWT-Region867-669-2647livingstoned@inac.gc.ca

Definition of “water standards”

stand·ard    –noun

- something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model

- a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment:

- an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc

- .standards, those morals, ethics, habits, etc., established by authority, custom, or an individual as acceptable