SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
The province is opening the Water Act for review and will be seeking input from the public and municipalities.
There have been many conversations around water and water conservation throughout the local area.
Over the past two years the province has seen huge swings in the weather from droughts to floods and some major water breaks in Calgary that highlighted the need to have a system for effective maintenance and resiliency.
The result of the droughts across the province led to more formal water sharing agreements.
The Water Act was last updated in June 2024 to include measures to promote water conservation and management, to ensure sustainable use and allocation of water resources while increasing executive powers to have a broader ability to manage resources during emergencies including the ability to temporarily divert water through the agreements.
It also added a five stage drought response plan.
In 2023 the irrigation season started with the usual 24 inch water allotment that was set by the Eastern Irrigation District. In 2024 that was dropped to 18-inches and is expected to be the amount that will be used for the start of each season moving forward. It will be increased if possible as the season progresses.
Now with numerous changes, population and economic growth that require water in an increasingly challenging period, the province will look to update policy and regulatory tools that could be used to increase water availability for Albertans and optimize the water management system to better address these issues while continuing to protect the aquatic environment.
Margo Jarvis Redelback, executive director of Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA) said, “Alberta’s irrigation districts take water management seriously and are leaders in the responsible use of water to support food production and local jobs.
“The AIDA and its member irrigation districts will be engaging with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas to discuss opportunities to increase access to water for other uses while still upholding irrigation district water supply that supports food production.”
In May 2023 the federal government announced the modernization of Canada’s Water Act to reflect the changing reality of fresh water across the country.
Bill C-61, First Nations Clean Water Act, is currently being debated.
Among many aspects there is a commitment for Canada to support the creation of a First Nations Water Commission.
Bow River MP Martin Shields, who is a member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, told the committee last week that he is frustrated and believes the legislation, “Will not fix the water crisis tomorrow… The legislation tells me that we’re going to be tied up in court for years, and you’re not going to get clean drinking water for years.”
He said the legislation ties the country up with water commissions, Indigenous, provincial and federal governments.
“We’re all going to be in court. That doesn’t give you clean drinking water and doesn’t start it.”
There will be a second round of bilateral meetings with provinces and territories in the fall to support the finalization of engagement plans.
The province’s online survey will be available soon and the engagement section is now open at https://www.alberta.ca/water-availability-engagement.
