Users’ Associations

Within British Columbia there are a number of associations that are primarily focused on the delivery of drinking water. A few of these are:

British Columbia Water and Waste Association

WHO ARE WE?

BCWWA represents a broad-cross section of some 3700 public and private stakeholders (i.e. members) province wide. Founded in 1973, The BCWWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship of the environment and public health by advancing the technology and science of the water and waste fields. BCWWA’s mandate is to promote understanding of water and wastewater issues and to encourage all water purveyors to upgrade their skill levels and training on an ongoing and regular basis.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Over the past decade, BCWWA has expanded the range and scope of programs and services it offers to the water and wastewater industry. Today, the Association prides itself on delivering a comprehensive range of courses leading to certification for operators in various locales throughout the province. BCWWA also organizes numerous customized courses to train industry professionals in the technical and supervisory areas.

Besides formal training, BCWWA has 17 individual Committees that organize and offer specialized seminars of a timely and critical importance to enhance understanding and appreciation of issues and emerging technologies (e.g. Post Walkerton seminar held in June, 2000 on Drinking Water, and The Water Security seminar held in November, 2001). Once each year, BCWWA is instrumental in organizing its Annual Conference where up to 90 renowned technical experts and where more than 1,000 industry members inter-relate to presenters, their peers and to their colleagues papers.

OPPORTUNITIES

BCWWA’s technical Committees, most of which are having a technical or sub-sector specific nature, allow members to focus their expertise on the consideration of timely issues. The Small Water Systems Committee is one of these committees. This committee is described in further detail on the Small Water Systems Committee page.

There are opportunities on these technical committees for BCWWA members to participate & assist in any activities the committee is involved in. For students, this will provide the perfect opportunity for exposure in a technical area of interest/study. For seasoned professionals, your participation will augment the skill base of your industry by allowing access to your experience & knowledge while providing you the network and forum to further your own interests.

Small Water Users Association of BC

The Small Water Users Association of BC is a non-profit association of small water systems in British Columbia serving between 2-300 connections. It's mission is twofold:

To foster cooperation and information sharing amongst small water systems throughout BC in order to improve system operations and help reduce costs.
To represent the concerns and interests of small water systems before all levels of government.

For more information on the association please visit www.smallwaterusers.com.

Coastal Water Suppliers Association

(Formerly the Vancouver Island Improvement Districts Association)

The objects and aims of the Association are:

(a) For the mutual benefit of the operation of member improvement districts and private water systems. To acquaint their Trustees and Employees with a range of representative problems and to give other member districts practical experiences by which they can be solved.

(b) This Association shall be termed as a “watchdog” for its members and may deal with matters concerning all districts in various fields including finance, watersheds, and pollution control including water analysis procedures.

(c) As a unified Association the CWSA shall approach the government and ask for a standard rate of interest on borrowing of monies for our districts.

Membership:

The membership includes improvement districts, private water systems and one municipality on Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and the Gulf Islands.

For more information on the association please visit www.cwsa.net.

Water Suppliers Association of BC

The Water Supply Association of B.C. (formerly the Association of B.C. Irrigation Districts) was founded in 1922. Association members now supply 45,000 irrigable acres and 36,000 domestic connections. The association is divided into three sections - North, Central, and South. Three elected representatives from each section comprise the nine-delegate board, which meets at least five times yearly. The association currently represents 50 water suppliers in the Okanagan and West Kootenay regions.

With the change in name and focus, the association has established two membership categories: REGULAR MEMBERS – Irrigation and domestic suppliers interested in the association’s expanded mandate, and water suppliers that have amalgamated with municipalities or regional districts; and ASSOCIATE MEMBERS – Consultants, individuals and companies that provide goods or services to the water supply industry.

For more information on the association please visit www.wsabc.com.

British Columbia Ground Water Association

Provides professional and technical leadership in the advancement of the groundwater industry, and in the protection, the promotion, and the responsible development and use of ground water resources.

For more information on the Association please visit www.bcgwa.org