More protections needed in Coastal Protection Act: Ecology Action Centre

The Coastal Protection Act aims to help protect homes from rising sea levels from climate change, but according to the Ecology Action Centre, that is not the whole story.

Will Balser, coastal adaptation coordinator with Ecology Action Centre, says the deal does not include well and septic systems. 

Despite this, he says it will not stop current construction already doing damage.

“People will keep putting things in that they perhaps shouldn't be putting in, right up until they're not allowed to,” Balser said. 

The act will regulate how close structures can be built to the water.

Balser says if sea levels rise too much, the septic system could erode and wells may become filled will salt water.

Septic and well systems currently have their own regulations with the province, but Balser hopes there may be a second act to follow sometime in the future that protects those systems.