The Ministers of Water, Land and Air Protection, and Health Services for British Columbia established an independent review plan in September 2001 to review the Drinking Water Protection Act, passed in April 2001. The Drinking Water Review Panel completed its mandate by preparing an Interim Report in December 2001 and a Final Report in February 2002.

During the public review, members of the public identified the need for stronger measures for protecting drinking water sources. Many commented on the need to protect drinking water from the impacts of other activities. They also noted that abuses that are incompatible with safe drinking water practices often take place in our delicate and vulnerable watersheds.

The suggestion that drinking water should take priority over all other uses when making decisions that affect watersheds was made. Some went one step further - namely, advocating drinking watershed reserves, in which all other uses would be prohibited. The activities most often singled out for their impact on drinking water were forestry and agriculture, although septic systems, roads, and recreation were also mentioned.

The public identified source protection as the top priority. The public was distinctly pleased to see source protection introduced into the legislation and some wanted even more measures to be taken.

The need for the creation of a formal 'drinking water officer' position was noted. Requirements for the reporting of monitored results, public notice of threats to the drinking water, and information about the new groundwater protection measures proposed in the Act were appreciated by the public. A current lack of funding to implement the Act, particularly given the current fiscal restraint within the provincial government, and the lack of one clear government authority for the protection of drinking water are ongoing concerns. This Act remains a work on progress.