Capping unused wells will be up for discussion at the next Township council priorities committee meeting.

Councillor Charlie Fox, who on June 22 served a notice of motion, calling for staff to investigate “an implementation strategy to provide an incentive to encourage residents to cap unused wells,” on Monday referred the matter to the committee meeting.

“This is very near and dear to my heart,” Fox told council, adding that his domestic water comes from his own deep well, and he has recently invested a significant sum in a filtration system to remove impurities from his drinking water.

Aquifer security and safety must be a very high priorty, said Fox.

Councillor Mel Kositsky said that while council for years has annually passed motions on ground water management and safety, and passed them on to the Union of B.C. Municipalities, “the provincial government, for some reason, refuses to (take action) on ground water protection legislation.”

Kositsky said Township since 1996 has repeatedly put motions through, calling for groundwater protection legislation.

And the council has done what was in its power, including the initiation of a development moratorium over the Hopington Aquifer, and the Township’s Water Management Strategy and other water quality measures.

“We have been doing our part, it is the province that is dragging its heels,” said Kositsky.

“Hopefully we can move forward with the Water Managment Plan, so we will have the tools (to protect groundwater),” Kositsky told council.

Langley Township’s Water Management Plan is one of several pilot projects in B.C. that is intended to guide province-wide water management regulations over the coming years.

In November 2007, the Township draft plan caused a large outcry among rural residents, who were opposed to a stipulation that rural private wells be metered.

Township council amended the draft water management plan, deleting meters for rural wells.

The province has been working on water regulation changes since 2004.

A three-phase groundwater protection plan began with qualification standards for drillers, standards for construction of wells and standards for closure of old wells.

In the next few years, provincial regulations are expected to focus on operation and management of wells and groundwater, including government regulations on groundwater use in priority areas, and restrictions on large groundwater withdrawals.

New provincial approaches to water management will address the impacts from a changing water cycle, increased drought risk and other impacts on water caused by climate change.

All large water users will be required to measure and report their water use.

And Victoria will require more efficient water use in the agriculture sector and will also secure access to water for agricultural lands.

By 2020, water use in British Columbia will be 33 per cent more efficient, with 50 per cent of new municipal water needs acquired through conservation.

The next council priorities committee meeting includes a discussion on the Township’s Water Management Plan.