Sundre is exploring the potential for selling wastewater to local oilfield fracking companies.
The town has been selling drinking-quality water to local fracking companies for years.
But one of the problems is the supply is limited, said Ron Baker, the town’s director of operations.
“We were selling lots of it for fracs. I had to cut the trucks off because once we get the higher summer demands, we have to ensure we secure the town’s supply first.
“The trucks, once they start really hauling, we can’t meet both demands.”
A representative of one of the trucking companies suggested the wastewater could provide an alternate supply.
Baker, who is a licensed petroleum technologist with fracking experience, said he’s talked to Alberta Environment and they are reviewing the idea.
“It’s not that easy. It’s not as straightforward as it sounds,” he said.
“The water is still taken out of the water cycle. Water that gets used for fracs can really only ever be used for fracs after that.”
Sundre’s water supply comes from four deep wells.
The water is treated and then distributed to residents.
The wastewater goes to a lagoon, where it is treated again before it is piped to the river.
Wastewater used for fracking would not be making that return trip to the river and would be lost.
The town’s water system might provide a unique opportunity because Sundre returns more water to the river than it takes out. The reason is that the town is low-lying and many of its water pipes are underneath the water table and water actually leaks into them.
In 2010, the town pumped about 484,300 cubic metres of water into its distribution system. However, the lagoon treated 596,800 cubic metres.
It is that difference — 112,500 cubic metres — that the province may allow the town to sell for fracking.
Baker said there are many implications that will have to be considered. Foremost, is whether fracking companies want to use wastewater. That’s an answer he does not have yet.
“If they can’t use it, the whole thing is over right there.”
Another issue is that the town has no equipment to pump wastewater into waiting trucks.
Also, the town is continually upgrading its water system and repairing leaks. The more leaks repaired, the less water would be available for sale in the future.
However, if it pans out, wastewater sales could provide a significant source of water for oil companies and additional income for the municipality. It would also mean that expensive drinking water doesn’t get diverted into fracking.
A typical fracking operation uses upwards of 1,800 cubic metres of water, said Baker. He plans to investigate the wastewater sales potential and report back to council next year. He hopes to tap expertise available through the Sundre Petroleum Operators Group, an organization aligning regulators, industry and community groups.
Alberta Environment spokeswoman Carrie Sancartier did not have any specific information about the Sundre proposal.
Selling wastewater would require changes being approved to the town’s water licence. Impacts to the environment and downstream users would be among the issues considered, said Sancartier.
“There’s quite a few things that would have to be looked at before it could go forward.”
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com