WATER SYSTEMS STATISTICS FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

The following are two tables on water licences and water systems statistics, borrowed from government informational sources.

1.  The following table is taken from Appendix F, "Regional Data", of the Provincial Health Officer's Annual Report 2000, Drinking Water Quality in British Columbia: The Public Health Perspective, October 2001.  (Note, for some reason, the table data "excludes First Nation water systems")
 
 

REGION
More than 300 connections
15-300 connections
2-14 connections
Total Connections
Population
East Kootenay
14
67
144
225
82,552
Kootenay Boundary
16
101
203
320
82,758
North Okanagan
10
67
67
144
119,250
Okanagan Similkameen
27
69
35
131
233,133
Thompson
11
85
145
241
137,639
Fraser Valley
13
102
165
280
243,175
South Fraser
7
17
43
67
575,919
Simon Fraser
7
3
25
35
517,594
Coast Garabaldi
11
47
109
167
80,448
Central Vancouver Island
24
110
112
246
245,279
Upper Island
16
27
89
132
122,809
Cariboo
4
54
302
360
77,188
North West
16
23
96
135
91,159
Peace Liard
7
9
199
215
66,254
Northern Interior
13
40
168
221
134,081
North Shore
4
10
12
26
741,862
Vancouver-Richmond
3
0
0
3
180,432
Capital
6
42
20
68
334,847
TOTAL
209
873
1,934
3,016
4,067,179

2.  Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks information on B.C. water licences for consumptive use, by Region, as of February 14, 2001.  (Note: this is not a comprehensive list, as there are a number of other categories not represented.  These categories represent the majority of the consumptive water licences.)
 

   REGION
DOMESTIC
ENTERPRISE
INCIDENTAL
DOMESTIC
WATWORKS
(LOC.  AUTH)
WATWORKS
(OTHER)
WORK
CAMPS
CAMPS
PUBLIC
FACIL
CHUR/
COMM.
HALLS
INSTITU-
TIONS
Lower
Mainland
3,130
79
--
230
71
19
12
5
3
1
Vancouver
Island
2,659
117
--
157
52
18
4
2
1
4
Southern
Interior
7,829
180
54
427
111
8
14
10
1
8
Kootenay
6,645
180
143
311
49
4
4
11
6
4
Cariboo
1,318
52
2
17
20
11
3
1
1
1
Omineca-
Peace
783
30
--
45
18
15
6
1
--
2
Skeena
934
47
--
35
43
16
10
2
1
--
TOTALS 23,298 685 199 1,222 364 91 53 32 13 20

The following are the definitions used in the categories presented in the above mentioned table, as taken directly from the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks website (www.elp.gov.bc.ca/wat/wrs/fs3fees.htm).

DOMESTIC - "Water is used in a household, which is interpreted as a dwelling, and the number of dwellings within the appurtenant land is 4 or less. In addition to the use of water in a dwelling the water may be used: a)on a garden not exceeding 1/4 acre in area; b)for stock or poultry being raised as pets or of a number sufficient only to sustain the licensee's family with food; or to  c)maintain a system for fire protection of the licensee's home. In instances where the licencee uses the water for one of the specific domestic purposes defined above, the purpose may be expressed as "Domestic (watering of garden)", "Domestic (Stock watering)", or as "Domestic (fire protection)", where use does not exceed 100 gal/day."

INCIDENTAL DOMESTIC - "The option to make a domestic use of some of the water authorized under license for another purpose."

ENTERPRISE - "Water used for hotels, motels, trailer parks, service stations, restaurants, commercial campgrounds, mobile home parks, or similar commercial enterprises which are owned and operated for profit."

WATERWORKS (Local Authority) - "Water conveyed to more than 5 dwellings by a water district incorporated under an Act, municipality, improvement district, water utility under the Water Utility Act or development district."

WATERWORKS (Other) - "Water conveyed to more than 5 dwellings by an organization other than a "Local Authority" such as strata associations, Indian Bands etc."

WORK CAMPS - "Water is used in logging camps, mining camps, detention camps, armed forces bases and similar facilities."

CAMPS - "Water used in camps operated by non profit organizations for use of their membership such as Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, churches, youth groups, etc."

PUBLIC FACILITIES - "Water is used in washrooms, drinking fountains and maintenance of public buildings."

CHURCHES/ COMMUNITY HALLS - "Water used by churches or community halls."

INSTITUTIONS - "Water is used in schools, hospitals or similar public facilities."