Water in Alberta: Adaptation through Collaboration. CCTC 2013 Kim Sturgess, P. Eng Lorne Taylor, PHD May 29 th, 2013

Transcription

1 Water in Alberta: Adaptation through Collaboration CCTC 2013 Kim Sturgess, P. Eng Lorne Taylor, PHD May 29 th, 2013

2 Water for Life: Alberta s Strategy for Sustainability development, renewed in 2009 and committed to in Budget 2013 Overarching strategy with measurable goals: Safe, secure drinking water supply Healthy aquatic ecosystems Reliable, quality supplies for a sustainable economy Goals to be achieved through: Research and knowledge Partnerships Conservation

3 Food Energy Water Tradeoff Water Food Energy This is the challenge of Public Policy in Alberta

4 In spite of challenges, we can make our future Yet despite the depletion of watercourses, glaciers, and aquifers in many regions, the Earth is not running out of water in fact, most countries have more than enough water to supply their populations growing needs and to sustain the flows needed to protect the natural environment. The problem, rather, is that our societies are doing a poor job of managing these water resources. The rate of innovation and productivity improvement in water resource management lags that of many other sectors. It is this management challenge a factor that we as human societies can control that threatens our economies, human life and health, and natural ecosystems. We are not simply at the mercy of a scarce and variable natural resource.

5 Adaptation Strategies are different in the North and South Hay River Basin Plus Great Slave Basins Alberta s Major River Basins Peace/Slave River Basin Athabasca River Basin Beaver River Basin North Saskatchewan River Basin South Saskatchewan River Basin Milk River Basin

6 Estimated Annual Water Use was 3.2 billion cubic metres in % 69% 5% 14% 6%

7 South Saskatchewan Region Estimated Water Use by Sector Estimated Water Use 2.4 billion m 3 per year 0.1% 2% 2% 4% 85% 7% Agricultural Other Municipal Industrial Commercial Petroleum

8 Water Issues South Saskatchewan Challenges No new water licences being issued Demand increasing due to population growth Climate change and First Nation water rights uncertainties Variation in water flow across seasons Sharing of water rights during times of shortages Decoupling of land and water rights driving an underground water market WID Rocky View Example Water Pricing Water Transfers Best Use?

9 Tools for Adaptation Regional water sharing solutions Watershed Planning Water License Transfers and Allocation Storage Recycle and Reuse (grey water and industrial water) Integrated Modeling and Planning Technology Efficiency (leaky pipes) Conservation (rain barrels)

10 The Bow River Project Participants hold 95% of Water Licensed for Use on the Bow System Alberta Water Research Institute Alberta WaterSMART Bow River Basin Council Bow River Irrigation District Calgary Regional Partnership City of Calgary County of Newell Ducks Unlimited Canada Eastern Irrigation District HydroLogics Inc. Rocky View County Trout Unlimited Canada Water and Environmental Hub Western Irrigation District Participation from: Alberta Environment; Sustainable Resource Development; Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development; Alberta Tourism, Parks & Recreation

11 The Bow is a Managed River Bow River at Calgary Natural vs. Managed Flows ( ) Bow System can be managed to mitigate climate effects on supply, demand, environmental and economic factors Source: BRBC State of Watershed Plan

12 BRP: Preferred Scenario (Stabilized Kananaskis + 60,000af Water Bank) 12

13 Lower Athabasca Region Estimated Water Use by Sector Estimated Water Use billion m 3 per year* 0.1% 1% 2% 3% 88% 6% Petroleum Other Municipal Agricultural Industrial Commercial

14 Water Issues Lower Athabasca Challenges Perception that disproportionate amounts of water are being consumed by oil sands Perception that oil sands production is contaminating rivers, lakes and streams: Monitoring programs Variation in water flow across seasons Sharing of water rights during times of shortages: Lower Athabasca River Water Management Framework Phase 1 Climate change and First Nation water rights uncertainties Tailings Ponds remain How do we promote regional water management and collaboration?

15 Tools for Adaptation Regional water sharing solutions Watershed Planning Water License Transfers and Allocation Storage Recycle and Reuse (grey water and industrial water) Integrated Modeling and Planning Technology Efficiency (leaky pipes) Conservation (rain barrels)

16 Regional Water System a concept Numerous facilities in one region, some in deficit; some in surplus RM Wood Buffalo managing multiple municipal systems Regional distribution system to balance water between projects Modeling exercises as in South Saskatchewan Basin Copyright 2005 The Pembina Institute Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

17 OSLI Regional Water Solutions: A paradigm shift in oil sands water management Challenge Currently operators in the oil sands region are working independently to solve their individual water sourcing and disposal needs. Opportunity Lower the regional water management environmental impact (water, land, wastes, GHGs) Project Description Examine the potential to reduce environmental impact through regional collaboration. Potential Benefits Lower regional Environmental Net Effect Reduce tailings liability Establish reliable SAGD water sources Accelerate tailings reclamation Sub-Regional Alternative Regional Alternative 17

18 Alberta WaterSMART Alberta WaterSMART is committed to improving water management through better technologies and practices, for the social, economic and environmental benefit of current and future Albertans, and then sharing these solutions with Canada and the world. Website: