About the GVWWC
GVWWC participating in Earth Walk 2008

Since 2005, the GVWWC has promoted the benefits of public water and wastewater services and has championed the public good versus private interests.

GVWWC welcomes membership from organizations and individuals who see water as a fundamental issue in this region. We are an “equal opportunity” Coalition, not weighted in favour of any member organization or individual.

Contact us at:
GVWWC Box 5515, Victoria, BC V8R 6S4

CURRENT GVWWC MEMBERS

Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace - Victoria Local Groups

Council of Canadians - Victoria Chapter

CUPE Locals 1978/374

Greater Victoria Seniors (BCOAPO)

Island Water Watch

KAIROS - Victoria Group

Social Responsibility Council First Victoria Unitarian Church

South Island Health Coalition

Victoria Labour Council

& Many Concerned Individuals.

DISCLAIMER
The GVWWC has not reviewed all of the sites linked to this site and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to this site, whether or not they are affiliated with the GVWWC. Linked sites are for educational purposes only and you access them at your own risk. The GVWWC makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or functioning of any such link. That another web site is linked to our site does not constitute endorsement by the GVWWC or of the owner of the other site, the content of its site, or its products or services.

The GVWWC assumes no responsibility or liability for any damages (including without limitation any damages caused by viruses) to your computer software, equipment or other property in connection with your access to or use of this site or your downloading of any data, text, images, files or other materials from/via the site.


Meet the CRD Decision Makers


The CRD Board of Directors has the final say about water/wastewater in our community.

We encourage community members to attend CRD meetings.
Note: The public may attend meetings as observers only. Please observe the rules of conduct.

Most meetings are held at:

625 Fisgard Street
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8W 1R7
tel: 250-360-3000 for meeting locations.

We encourage citizens to remind their elected representatives that a solid majority of CRD Residents want public sewage treatment.



What's Wrong with P3s?
What's Wrong with Privatization?

Water is a public trust; it belongs to everyone. But water privatization is sneaking through the back door in the form of public-private partnerships (P3s). What does it mean? What can you do?


Recommended viewing
Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) interviews Alan Snitow, co-director of the PBS film "Thirst."
SEE VIDEO and related story on the Democracy Now! website


Recommended reading
"The Water Business - Corporations Versus People"
by Ann-Christin Sjolander Holland
(Global Issues Series)

Failed Privatization Schemes

Recommended viewing
Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) interviews Alan Snitow, co-director of the PBS film "Thirst."
SEE VIDEO and related story on the Democracy Now! website


Alternatives to Privatization


Recommended reading
Reclaiming Public Water - Achievements, Struggles and Visions from Around the World
Transnational Institute and Corporate Europe Observatory, January 2005


What the heck are "PuPs?"

Public-Public Partnerships
(also known as "PuPs" or "twinning"), is an alternative to privatization that is gaining favour throughout the world.

PuPs can develop expertise, improve efficiency and
save taxpayers' money.

PuPs can include:

1) Partnerships with other municipalities or levels of government.
2) Partnerships within a municipality, or “re-engineering.” Operation and management are reorganized under continued local, public control, rewarding employees and managers for innovations.



The Case Against Bottled Water
Bottled Water markets its products as safer and cleaner, which undermines confidence in public water systems, paving the way for private companies to take over under funded local utilities. Bottled water is between 240 and 10,000 times more expensive than tap water.


Recommended Reading

NEW REPORTS
The Toxic Footprint of Bottled Water - 2009
The Toxic Footprint of PET-bottled Water in British Columbia report was prepared by Sean Griffin, Research Coordinator for Toxic Free Canada

Campus Water Fountains:
The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY
By: the Polaris Institute
September 2009

Inside the Bottle -
Exposing the Bottled Water Industry
by Tony Clark

Bottled Water Energy Factsheet
by The Pacific Institute



Benefits of Public Water
Crystal clear Rithet Creek is the largest tributary stream flowing into Sooke Reservoir, the source of our drinking water

A Precious Natural Asset
Unlike many sources of drinking water on Vancouver Island, our watershed is pristine; nobody lives on it and there is no industry. Commercial logging - a hotly debated issue throughout BC - is no longer allowed around the Sooke Lake Reservoir, thanks to the efforts of local environmentalists during the 1990s.

Safe, clean and great-tasting, at less than 0.14 cents a liter (that's 1.4 cents for 10 liters!), our public water is a bargain. Drinking CRD tap water (instead of bottled water) will save you hundreds of dollars each year, and the pittance you'll pay for it will help to maintain one of the finest water systems in Canada.

Savings are built into the system
Part of the low cost is built into the system, with an almost perfectly shaped reservoir providing water so clear that it requires only disinfection. Costly filtering - the bane of many water systems - isn't necessary for CRD water. Pumping costs - often an expensive part of treatment and distribution - are minimal because the reservoir's elevation creates "gravity pressure" as the water flows downhill.

Value for Money
What do we get for 0.14 cents a liter? Fees for public water are plowed right back into the system for things like infrastructure, maintenance, disinfection, forest stewardship, fire prevention, water quality testing and training/certification of staff.

Public operators also tend to freely share information, so our system can benefit from the knowledge of experts from other public waterworks - an arrangement known as "Public-Public Partnerships" or PuPs.



Recommended reading
Reclaiming Public Water - Achievements, Struggles and Visions from Around the World
Transnational Institute and Corporate Europe Observatory, January 2005

Water as a Human Right

The Cochabamba protests of 2000, also known as "The Cochabamba Water Wars," were a series of protests that took place in Cochabamba, Bolivia's third largest city, between January and April 2000 because of the privatization of the municipal water supply. (photo from Nadir)


Every year the GVWWC celebrates
March 22nd - World Water Day.

Past events have included "Water Walks," films, a public forum, and the awarding of our annual GVWWC Water Award.

Throughout the world on World Water Day, communities celebrate their connection to the growing global movement to reclaim the water commons for people and nature.





Public Opinion Polls


Radio/Video/Film links








The GVWWC has not reviewed all of the sites linked to this site and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to this site, whether or not they are affiliated with the GVWWC. Linked sites are for educational purposes only and you access them at your own risk. The GVWWC makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or functioning of any such link. That another web site is linked to our site does not constitute endorsement by the GVWWC or of the owner of the other site, the content of its site, or its products or services.

GET INVOLVED
Any action that you take, whether it be:
signing our petition
talking with a neighbour
phoning a talk show
writing a "letter to the editor"
contacting a politician
attending CRD meetings
...and especially
attending CRD open houses
in early February

will make a difference
KEEP SEWAGE TREATMENT PUBLIC.

THE LATEST SCOOP
Get the latest news

Updates, breaking news - the latest scoop!

COMING EVENTS


Conservation/Reuse/Resource Recovery
Beautiful Sooke Reservoir, the source of our drinking water, lies within the boundaries of the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, land that is owned and protected by the Capital Regional District.

Recommended reading
Design for Water:
Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, and Alternate Water Reuse
by Heather Kinkade-Levario

The following are external links

To see a news clip about TreePeople and The Sun Valley Watershed Project (large-scale rainwater catchment), CLICK HERE

To see how you can modify your home & garden to capture rainwater, CLICK HERE


CRD report:
"Rainwater Harvesting
in Greater Victoria"

Also see
Urban Raincatchers' Gazette," which showcases innovation in the public sector, leadership from the grassroots, inspiration from NGOs and - above all - partnerships that empower citizens to become part of the solution to floods, droughts and stormwater problems.




The GVWWC has not reviewed all of the sites linked to this site and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to this site, whether or not they are affiliated with the GVWWC. Linked sites are for educational purposes only and you access them at your own risk. The GVWWC makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or functioning of any such link. That another web site is linked to our site does not constitute endorsement by the GVWWC or of the owner of the other site, the content of its site, or its products or services.



Community-Based Initiatives
People can make a difference in their communities

From the 1990's campaign to stop logging in our drinking watershed, to the cleanup of urban streams and waterways, to the campaign for sewage treatment, and now the overwhelming support for public waterworks, CRD residents can - and have - made a difference to every aspect of water in our region.

Write a letter about keeping sewage treatment in public control
here are some important points:

Dear CRD Board Member:

- Public-Private Partnerships often end up costing more than public water/wastewater systems.

- Privatized wastewater could lead to privatization of our award-winning CRD PUBLIC WATER.

- P3s are difficult to monitor and there is no public accountability.

- NAFTA & SPP make it difficult & costly to reverse P3 deals.

- invite local politicians to act on our behalf to make SEWAGE TREATMENT CLEAN, GREEN & PUBLIC.

Write:
Geoff Young, Chair of the Capital Regional District Board (external link)


Editor's note: Please see our Conservation/Reuse/Resource Recovery section for some inspiring examples of community-based solutions from around the world.






Books


** CONFERENCE DETAILS **
OUR FIRST CONFERENCE
was a huge success!

WATER – OURS TO PROTECT
November 17th, 2007

Hundreds of people attended the GVWWCs first water conference to learn about water: conservation, local governance, watersheds, privatization, sustainable sewage treatment, groundwater, and more.


"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water."
Loren Eisley (Anthropologist), 1957

The GVWWC has not reviewed all of the sites linked to this site and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to this site, whether or not they are affiliated with the GVWWC. Linked sites are for educational purposes only and you access them at your own risk. The GVWWC makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or functioning of any such link. That another web site is linked to our site does not constitute endorsement by the GVWWC or of the owner of the other site, the content of its site, or its products or services.