Water‐Resources Development in Canada and Overseas

Major water projects are encountering increasing public resistance owing to some past failures to take into account all impacts during project evaluation. New delaying factors include undergoing the public consultative process, paying intervenors, seeking public‐policy decisions, and taking government polls to measure public perception. Worthwhile works are being held up beyond reasonable time frames such that the public safety may be put at unnecessary risk. Public perception seems to be replacing sound engineering judgment, B/C ratios, and man‐years of employment as yardsticks for evaluating projects. The engineer must act as an innovative catalyst to better educate politicians and the public in order to create better public perception. The public must obtain the best value for their money. Project delivery systems are available to determine the legitimacy and appropriateness of specific capital proposals. Methods are suggested for streamlining evaluations so that projects will be funded and constructed.