Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta is beginning work on a long-term strategy aimed at ensuring the province has enough reliable water to meet the needs of communities, agriculture and industry over the next century.
The provincial government has issued a request for proposals for a white paper on Alberta’s long-term water security, seeking practical and innovative ways to increase water availability and improve how the resource is managed.
The initiative comes as Alberta’s population and economy continue to expand, increasing demand for water across municipalities, farms, agri-food operations and industries.
Study to examine major water infrastructure
The proposed white paper will look at a range of options that could strengthen Alberta’s water supply, including the construction or expansion of water-storage and conveyance infrastructure.
It will also examine ways to make greater use of groundwater, improve water measurement and reporting, and deploy more advanced modelling and forecasting systems.
The government said the study is intended to provide a long-term framework for future infrastructure and investment decisions rather than automatically approving any particular project.
Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said planning a century ahead is necessary to ensure water availability keeps pace with Alberta’s growth.
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Tara Sawyer said the province’s agriculture sector, communities and wider economy all depend on reliable water supplies, making long-term planning increasingly important.
New forecasting projects underway
Alongside the 100-year water-security study, Alberta is developing new tools to better understand water availability and future demand.
One project, being undertaken by Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd., will develop a watershed-level forecasting model for water demand in the South Saskatchewan River Basin.
The model will assess demand from a range of users, including municipalities, irrigation operations, livestock, industrial facilities and commercial users.
A second project, led by Aquanty Inc., will operationalize existing HydroGeoSphere models for the Peace and Athabasca river basins. The system is expected to support near-real-time as well as short-term and seasonal hydrological forecasting in northern Alberta.
Both modelling projects are scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Government seeks input from Albertans
The long-term exercise will also consider potential partnerships and funding arrangements for future water projects.
The province said it intends to engage with Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry groups and Albertans as the work progresses.
Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen said infrastructure planning must keep pace with Alberta’s growth and include preparations for the water requirements of expanding communities.
Preparing for drought and changing conditions
The government said better data and forecasting will help Alberta identify where water supplies are available, where demand is increasing and how conditions could evolve over time.
The combined work is expected to help the province prepare for drought and other changing conditions while providing information needed to assess future investments.
Officials stressed that proposals emerging from the white paper will still be subject to technical assessments and other considerations before any decisions are taken.
The broader objective is to develop a clearer picture of Alberta’s water requirements and ensure the province can support population growth, agriculture and economic activity without compromising water security for future generations.
