Communities across the province in calling on the Government of British Columbia to modernize industrial water rates and reinvest the resulting revenues in watershed security — a move that advocates say would protect local water supplies and strengthen community resilience to climate impacts.
A new report from the BC Watershed Security Coalition, Modernizing Industrial Water Rates in BC: Ending the Great Water Giveaway, reveals that B.C. currently charges some of the lowest industrial water rates in Canada — as little as $2.25 per million litres. At the same time, provincial funding for watershed security has declined by nearly 80 percent, leaving stewardship groups, scientists, and First Nations with limited resources to monitor, protect, and restore local water systems.
According to the report, updating industrial water rates could generate more than $100 million annually, creating an opportunity to reinvest in the Watershed Security Fund — a provincial fund designed to support local economies, collaborative watershed initiatives, and climate adaptation projects.
“We’re seeing local watershed efforts stall just as the need for action grows,” said Kat Hartwig, Executive Director of Living Lakes Canada, a non-profit based in the Columbia Basin and a member of the BC Watershed Security Coalition. “Communities want to protect their freshwater, but without stronger provincial investment, we’re losing momentum as trained staff are left without work and critical monitoring and restoration initiatives are scaled back.”
Across B.C.’s Columbia Basin — including the Elk Valley — Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities are working to improve water management, restore ecosystems, and prepare for droughts, floods, and wildfires. With predictable, long-term funding, advocates believe these community-led initiatives could scale up to address cumulative watershed impacts and share solutions province-wide.
“Unlocking new, sustainable funding by modernizing industrial water rates can restore on-the-ground capacity, create jobs, and build climate resilience for safe communities, strong local economies, and healthy ecosystems,” added Hartwig.
Coree Tull, Chair of the BC Watershed Security Coalition, noted that this approach would not only create new revenue but also ensure fairness in how B.C.’s most vital natural resource is valued and managed.
“This is a fair and practical solution,” Tull said. “We know governments are facing tough budgets, which is why we did our homework. Modernizing industrial water rates would generate new revenue, strengthen communities, and ensure that those who profit most from water use contribute their fair share to steward it.”
The Coalition is urging the Province to include industrial water rate reform in Budget 2026, positioning B.C. to better protect its watersheds and prepare for a changing climate.
For more information, visit livinglakescanada.ca and bcwatershedsecurity.ca
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