Hydrology
Western Water takes a practical approach to hydrology, helping clients understand and manage surface water resources across British Columbia. From baseline watershed studies and streamflow monitoring to environmental flow needs assessments and water balance modelling, we provide solutions to support water supply, resource development and ongoing project operations. Our services support water licence applications and help clients assess water availability while considering the needs of fish and aquatic habitats. Through field monitoring, low flow analyses and hydrologic modelling, we evaluate seasonal conditions, long-term trends and the effects of project operations on streamflow and water temperature, providing clear information to guide water management decisions.
Hydrometric Monitoring
Western Water has experience implementing and conducting hydrometric monitoring in variable environments. Hydrometric monitoring stations are typically installed in previously unmonitored locations to continuously monitor water level, and from that, stream discharge. As part of monitoring, water level and manual discharge measurements are collected and used to develop stage-discharge relationships; stage-discharge relationships are then used to generate continuous discharge timeseries. Hydrometric monitoring supports water resource decision making, water licence applications and protects environmental values by establishing environmental flow needs requirements. Ongoing hydrometric monitoring can also be used to support drought response, evaluate the effects of forest fires and ensure requirements under natural resource permits are being met.
Environmental Flow Needs
Environmental flow needs (EFN) consist of the volume and timing of streamflow required for an aquatic system to properly function; changes in streamflow may affect the aquatic environment. Western Water is capable of evaluating EFN of streams to determine the potential impacts of water withdrawal on streams, and supplement water licence applications as needed. Multiple flow withdrawal scenarios can also be considered to identify the impacts under variable hydrologic conditions (e.g., low flows) or operating scenarios.
Watershed Hydrology
When land-use changes occur, the hydrology of a watershed is often impacted. Western Water is able to conduct a variety of hydrologic studies in watersheds to provide understanding of how water within the system is moving. Hydrology studies include water balance modeling, source water protection plans, drought susceptibility and low / high flow estimation. Western Water is also able to factor climate change projections into these analyses to estimate how the hydrology of an area may change in the future.
Permitting & Regulations
Regulations are developed with the intention of providing guidance to proponents on how to enact projects, while mitigating undue harm on the environment. With respect to surface water, Western Water has experience with helping navigate current legislation such as the BC Water Sustainability Act, Municipal Sewage Regulation, and the BC Mines Act.
