Wealth: physical, spiritual, cultural, ecological. Prosperity that water makes possible.
The WaterWealth Project is a non-partisan, volunteer initiative that works to amplify the voices of local community members who love the place in which they live, the nature around them, and the waters that sustain them. Based in Chilliwack, BC, our work ranges from community issues to provincial and national water policy. We recognize that long term solutions to the protection of fresh water can only be achieved with recognition of First Nations rights and title. We work for local communities to have the power to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to decisions that affect the wealth of their water.
We believe that water is precious, and that ordinary people can protect it. Many local people – especially in the agriculture, fishing and tourism sectors – depend on water for their livelihoods. But water give us more than financial revenue. Fresh clean flowing water is essential to the land, food and life-support systems all living things depend on.
Protection of our shared home waters faces grave challenges. Climate change, urbanization, polluting industrial developments, harmful agricultural and forest practices, and mismanaged mining including large-scale in-river gravel mining, can all put the waters we depend on at risk.
The WaterWealth Project is about taking a fresh approach to economic-well-being, one that respects the needs of all living beings and provides the foundation for healthy, thriving communities. We recognize that the actions of today drive the outcomes of tomorrow. Unless ordinary people work together to protect their water now, the future will be uncertain.