INNOVATION Sept-Oct 2019

P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E

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NEW GUIDELINES ON ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER AT RISK OF CONTAINING PATHOGENS (GARP) Engineers and Geoscientists BC has released new guidelines designed to assist engineering and geoscience professionals conduct groundwater assessments in a consistent manner, and advise on groundwater assessment best practices. The Professional Practice Guidelines – Assessment of Groundwater at Risk of Containing Pathogens (GARP Guidelines) were developed with the support of the BC Ministry of Health. Containing Pathogens (2017) and Drinking Water Treatment Objectives (Microbiological) for Ground Water Supplies in British Columbia (2015) . Web links to both documents are provided in the association’s GARP Guidelines .

The GARP Guidelines were developed in response to issues raised in the Ministry of Health’s guidance documents, and to address those issues as they relate to the practice of professional engineering and professional geoscience. These guidelines may assist in addressing systems level risks related to the availability and quality of groundwater sources in consideration of the projected climate change. These guidelines and other professional practice guidelines and practice resources are provided at egbc.ca/Professional-Practice . • Professional regulatory bodies that license the Practitioners (Professional Associations). • The provincial Ministry responsible for regulating such crossings, and oversight of the delivery of those obligations (Government/Governance). This practice advisory complements the guidance outlined in the Engineers and Geoscientists BC/ABCFP joint practices publication titled Guideline for Professional Services in the Forest Sector - Crossings V.2, June, 2014 (the Crossing Guideline ). This practice advisory addresses life-cycle phases beyond the scope of the Crossing Guideline , including inspection, maintenance, and deactivation of crossings. This advisory and other practice advisories and resources are available at egbc.ca/guidelines . To contact an Engineers and Geoscientists BC practice advisor, email practiceadvisor@egbc.ca, or call 1.888.430.8035 or 604.430.8035.

The presence of pathogens in water that is used for human consumption poses a drinking water hazard that endangers public health. To provide additional guidance on the intent of the groundwater legislation, the Health Protection Branch of the BC Ministry of Health released two guidance documents: Guidance Document for Determining Ground Water at Risk of

PRACTICE ADVISORY ISSUED FOR FOREST ROAD CROSSINGS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia and the

Association of British Columbia Forest Professionals (ABCFP) have issued a practice advisory titled Professional Roles and Responsibilities for the Life Cycle of Forest Road Crossings . The practice advisory advises members and licensees on: • the roles and responsibilities of project participants involved in the planning, design, construction, inspection, maintenance, and deactivation of forest road crossings; and • the regulation of the relevant areas of practice by professional regulatory bodies and by the government. This practice advisory distinguishes the roles and responsibilities of the following persons and entities at the various life-cycle phases of a project: • Professionals carrying out work relating to such crossings (Practitioners). • Forest road operators with legislated performance obligations (Road Operators).

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