01-40_WC_149_JUL-AUG26_PT - Flipbook - Page 12
DRINKING WATER
Water For
Emergencies
A look at various initiatives across Canada
BY TREENA HEIN
ICTURE FOR A MOMENT a large emergency
scenario. Due to fire, an extreme weather event or
some other situation, potable water supplies are
limited or nonexistent. People have had to flee
their homes unexpectedly, and securing water,
food and shelter for them is critical.
Delivering water can be done in several ways, and
this varies by province and other factors, including the
emergency plans already in place. For example, in British
Columbia, “the method to deliver potable water, such as
bottled or water trucks, largely depends on local needs
and logistics of the water utility owner, which in most
cases is the local government or First Nation,” states the
B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate
Readiness and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource
Stewardship.
Emergency water supply response is governed in B.C.
by the Water Sustainability Act. Under this legislation,
some ‘water licensees’ have authorization to package
and distribute water. “In addition to delivery authorized
under the Act and water sales, there are numerous retail
water sellers who obtain water through a water utility
and can be located through local businesses and services
directories,” state the Ministries.
At this time, there is no province-wide agreement in
B.C. between the government and any private-sector
firms for the production of canned water specifically
for emergency response. But the situation is different in
Ontario.
Treen Hein is an award-winning
freelance science and technology
writer based in eastern Ontario.
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WATER C AN ADA • JULY/AUGUS T 2026
Camille Cote-Begi
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WATERCANADA.NE T
