The City of Red Deer is participating in one of the new major water-sharing agreements to voluntarily cut water consumption if a severe drought strikes Alberta.
On Friday, the province announced four water-sharing agreements, one to cover each of the following sub-basins: the Red Deer River, the Bow River, the mainstem of the Oldman River, and the upper tributaries of the Oldman River.
The agreements involve 38 of the largest and oldest water licensees in southern Alberta. These groups represent up to 90 per cent of the water allocated in the Bow and Oldman basins and 70 per cent in the Red Deer River basin.
The City of Red Deer is part of the Red Deer River water-sharing agreement.
“What it would mean is the City of Red Deer would look at reducing our volume of water use off the Red Deer River from five to 10 per cent if possible,” said Cody Gillrie, Red Deer Water Treatment Plant supervisor.
He said the city, which has the second largest water licence on the Red Deer River, has been involved in water-sharing discussions since end of January. All the parties within each agreement will touch base regularly to monitor for drought conditions.
“These irrigators, industry and municipalities are demonstrating the leadership, dedication and community spirit that makes this province great,” said Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz, in a statement.
Related:
Red Deer County preparing for drought
In 2001, agreements between southern irrigators and others played a key role in helping share water during that drought. This year’s agreements, facilitated by the province, are even bigger in scale and scope.
In addition to municipalities reducing water consumption, the agreements will see industries use only the minimum volume of water practical to maintain safe, reliable operations. Irrigation districts will use less water and allow other users to get their water first, then use the remaining water available for licenced use.
To support the commitments made by Alberta’s largest water users, the province will also be working with smaller licence holders in the basins to request that they implement drought response measures and make similar water conservation commitments.
Related:
Red Deerians are urged to start voluntary water-saving measures on May 1
NOVA Chemicals in Central Alberta is an agreement participant.
“Water is a valuable resource and a critical part of our manufacturing processes at our Joffre manufacturing facility. As an industry leader and founding member of Responsible Care, NOVA Chemicals takes great care in ensuring the responsible treatment, reuse, and returning of water to the Red Deer River,” said Jim Dixon NOVA Chemicals director, manufacturing west production.
Alex Ostrop, chair of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association, said for many years, Alberta’s irrigation districts have been collaborating with the province and other water licence holders in the South Saskatchewan River Basin on responsible water use. The 2024 water-sharing agreements continue this co-operation.
Sarah Elmeligi, Alberta NDP Critic for Environment and Tourism, said these agreements should come into effect right now, not later when it might be too late.
She said the agreements also fail to address the need to leave some water in the river. In-stream flows keep fish alive and help cool the landscape, and ensure other provinces downstream have the water they need. Furthermore, a wildfire emergency response plan needs to be factored in.
“Without making concrete plans on the impacts of climate change on our province, the UCP government will always be pivoting from one crisis to the next. We know we are in a multi-year drought, yet there is no multi-year plan,” Elmeligi said.