Federal Environment Minister Sergio Marchi and Prince Edward Island Minister of Fisheries and Environment, Kevin J. MacAdam today released "Water on Prince Edward Island - Understanding the Resource, Knowing the Issues." Designed as a "primer" covering the basic elements about water in Prince Edward Island, the book will be both readable and informative to students and the general public. It outlines natural geological formations as well as economic and social conditions on Prince Edward Island that affect groundwater, surface water, and wastewater treatment.
In releasing the primer, Minister Marchi praised it as an excellent example of cooperation between the two levels of government aimed at assisting Islanders in understanding the valuable water resource available to them. "All Canadians are faced with personal decisions on how to preserve our environment. With the release of this primer, Islanders now have a better opportunity to understand, protect and make informed decisions about their water resources," said Minister Marchi.
Minister MacAdam emphasized that the document highlights the value of water as a resource. "PEI is blessed with an abundance of water. However, water does not exist in isolation and this book allows the reader to place it within the context of the Island economy, our recreational pursuits, as well as the general well being of Island ecosystems," said Mr. MacAdam.
Written in a plain language style, the book describes the nature of water and PEI watersheds, details water use, and describes water treatment for personal and business purposes. The primer also outlines concerns and issues that Islanders face in maintaining a clean and abundant water supply.
Production of the book was funded through the Canada/Prince Edward Island Water Annex to the Federal/Provincial Framework for Agreement for Environmental Cooperation in Atlantic Canada. The Water Annex combines the best aspects of federal and provincial water programs into a single, integrated, co-managed approach for delivering the mandates of both levels of government.
Copies of the book are available from the Prince Edward Island Department of Fisheries and Environment, and the PEI office of Environment Canada's Environmental Protection Branch.
For more information, please contact: Clair Murphy, Water Resources, PEI Department of Fisheries and Environment, (902) 368-5036; Roger White, Minister's Office, Environment Canada, (819) 997-1441; or Don Ambler, Environmental Conservation Branch, Environment Canada, (902)426-1718.
Visit PEI's web site at http://www.gov.pe.ca.
Visit the Green Lane, Environment Canada's web site, at http://www.ec.gc.ca.
(Egalement offert en francais)