The purpose of this project is to create a framework for assessing the functionality of regional water systems, for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of water use and enabling increased agricultural production. The project uses a case study in Surrey, BC as an example. The water assessment consisted of two parts: a water chain analysis, in which the components of the water system were studied according to their relationships with each other and the processes which connected them; and a water suitability assessment, in which the water resources were ranked according to their suitability for agricultural production. In combination, the two analyses reveal vulnerabilities, inefficiencies, and opportunities within Surrey’s water system. Then, using a holistic decision-making framework to demonstrate how this water assessments can be practically enacted to increase agricultural production and increase the efficiency of Surrey’s water system.

Continue to read a description of the case study site and of the holistic guiding principles.