INNOVATION January-February 2016

Seminars to Help Professionals Assess Ground Water for Pathogenic Risk

P hoto : © DFAT, via CC BY 2.0

This February, APEGBC is partnering with the BC Ministry of Health to deliver five workshops to help professionals assess ground water for pathogenic risks as per procedures now required by the province. The workshops support BC’s Drinking Water Protection Regulation . Under the Regulation , ground water at risk of containing pathogens must be disinfected. The Ministry of Health’s Guidance Document for Determining Ground Water at Risk of Containing Pathogens (GARP), Version 2 (the “GARP assessment document”; 2015), provides guidance on how to assess the risk. The Drinking Water Treatment Objectives (Microbiological) for Ground Water Supplies in British Columbia (the “GWTO”; 2015) further outlines treatment expectations. The seminars, scheduled for Nanaimo, Nelson, Kelowna, Prince George and Richmond, are designed to enhance the competencies of qualified professionals and improve the uptake of Ministry guidance on assessing ground water for pathogenic risks. The seminars focus on the procedure outlined in the GARP assessment document, including the studies that qualified professionals must

complete and the subsurface filtration credits that the GWTO outlines. Who should attend:

• Professional geoscientists and professional engineers who provide hydrogeology services; • Professionals who use the services of professional hydrogeologists;

• Health officers; • Water suppliers; • Water-well drillers; • Authorities having

jurisdiction and others who are called to deal with ground water issues. In 2015, more than 550 drinking water advisories and notices were in effect in BC, with many occurring in small, remote communities. More information about the seminars and how to register is available at: apeg.bc.ca/Events.

Input Sought on Human Rights and Diversity Professional Practice Guidelines APEGBC seeks member and industry input on a draft of the Human Rights and Diversity Professional Practice Guidelines. Through the APEGBC Code of After considering all input, revisions will be made to the guidelines, which will then be presented to APEGBC’s Professional Practice Committee for review. It is anticipated that the Human Rights and Diversity Guidelines will be

presented to Council for approval in the spring of 2016. For More Information Feedback, comments, and questions can be directed to guidelineconsultation@ apeg.bc.ca. v

Ethics, members and licensees have a responsibility to act at all times with fairness, courtesy and good faith to their associates, employers, employees and clients. The purpose of these guidelines is to clarify APEGBC’s expectations of its members and licensees with respect to human rights and diversity in professional practice. The association recognizes the importance of fostering workplace environments that welcome diverse members of our society and enable them to contribute to their full potential. Members and licensees are invited to review the draft guidelines and provide comments and feedback by email to guidelineconsultation@apeg.bc.ca by February 29, 2016. The draft guidelines have also been circulated for comment to APEGBC’s branches, divisions and a number of committees, as well as to industry stakeholders. Consultation on the draft guidelines began in December and closes February 29, 2016.

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For more information visit us at: apeg.bc.ca/a nity

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