Conservation is the first step in Alberta’s water policy. Saying no to new development may be second.
Alberta Environment urges conservation but it also refuses to grant new licences to withdraw water from the South Saskatchewan River basin, where so much of the province’s boom is taking place.
“This is a new kind of territory, having the South Saskatchewan River basin closed off to new transfers,” said Cara Van Marck of the environment department.
The department reviews all applications to transfer water, examining supply and environmental and quality impacts. The moratorium on water licences was a first good step, said Van Marck.
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“If you want more development, you will have to be a little more creative in how you do that,” she said.
The department’s flagship document, Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability, was released four years ago but is under review with a final report expected early next year.
“Considering the development and the population and economic growth we have seen in Alberta, we want to make sure it is still relevant,” she said.
At the same time, Alberta Environment promotes conservation, including societal behaviour changes such as fixing leaky taps, installing low flow toilets and watering yards better.
“If everybody does that, there is going to be more water available. No action is too small,” she said.
Conservation is also emphasized in Calgary, said Nancy Stocker of the city’s water resources department.
In 2005 the city adopted a policy goal called 30-30, which calls for the city, despite growth, to use the same amount of water in 2030 as it did in 2003. It will accomplish this by reducing per person water use by 30 percent.
In 2006 Calgary’s gross water use, including residential, commercial and municipal, was 451 litres per capita per day. In the early 1980s residents used 800 litres per day. In 2004 the Canadian average was 589 litres per capita in cities of more than 500,000 people.
“The faster the city grows we may have to adjust our water programs,” Stocker said.
“It is a limiting factor to growth.”
City bylaws require new homes to have low flow appliances. All businesses are metred and all homes must have metres by 2014.
“When you pay for what you use, people pay attention,” she said.
There is also a $50 rebate offer to replace old toilets with high efficiency models. About 1,400 new toilets have been installed under this program.
The city is also building new water treatment plants and is looking at ways to reuse water to reduce its needs by 10 to 14 percent.
