In the past five years, Haley Bassett has encountered water scarcity issues on her family farm near Dawson Creek. The well often gets clogged with black sand, indicating the impact of a prolonged drought in the region. This situation has led to sand accumulation in her yard, affecting crop yields, causing premature tree deaths, and promoting the growth of unwanted weeds like Canada thistle. Moreover, winter winds now carry more dust instead of snow, exacerbating the environmental challenges.
The severe or extreme drought in northeastern B.C. has resulted in dried-up rivers, strained reservoirs, and water use restrictions by local authorities. Bassett expresses concerns about the sustainability of her well and the measures in place to safeguard its water source, fearing the day when water may run out completely.
Advocacy groups are echoing Bassett’s worries, criticizing the provincial water policy for undervaluing water resources while promoting the expansion of major projects like mining, LNG, and AI data centers. They are calling for an increase in industrial water rates, highlighting that B.C.’s current rate of $2.25 per million liters is significantly lower than other provinces, which charge between $54 to $179 per million liters.
Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions defended the province’s policies, emphasizing rigorous water management practices that prioritize environmental and human health considerations. However, stakeholders argue that the water rental fees collected by the province, predominantly from hydropower generation, could be increased to better protect watersheds and address the growing industrial water demand.
In response to rising industrial water usage in northeastern B.C., calls for enhanced conservation efforts and better monitoring have intensified. The situation is compounded by declining snowpack levels and warmer, drier summers due to climate change, which are diminishing water recharge capacities. As the region grapples with water scarcity, the need for sustainable water management practices and increased industry contributions to water conservation efforts becomes increasingly urgent.