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News for 2009 (Archive)
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Medicine Hat water plant needs $30 million upgrade
Medicine Hat News - December 6
Alberta Environment is requiring the City of Medicine Hat to construct a $30 million facility to treat discharge from its water treatment plant. Currently, the city’s water treatment process uses aluminum sulfate as a coagulant. The resulting aluminum sludge, produced as a byproduct, is discharged back into the South Saskatchewan River.
It’s a common practice that has been employed for years by most water treatment plants in the province, but the province is tightening its regulations. “What we do now is we discharge any solids and material we take out of the water directly into the receiving stream. That will now be intercepted, and pumped to this new facility,” explains Frank Wetsch, acting general manager of environmental utilities for the City of Medicine Hat. “The solids will then be (dried), pressed, and then hauled — probably to the landfill — for disposal.” Wetsch says the reason for the regulatory change is simply to protect the environment and reduce the amount of sludge being poured back into the river. |
Calgary utility would sell water to neighbours
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Calgary Herald - November 30
The City of Calgary wants to create a new utility that would provide water to its neighbours-- as long as they're onside with long-term development plans. It means nearby communities, such as Airdrie, Cochrane, Turner Valley, Black Diamond, Irricana or Okotoks would have access to Calgary's water supply on a cost-recovery basis. But those communities not signed onto the Calgary Regional Partnership and its growth strategies--such as Rocky View County, which waged a high-profile fight to try to get water for its Cross Iron Mills mall--would be left high and dry. |
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Montana-Alta water sharing agreement near
Prairie Post - November 26
Water has been a thorn between Alberta and Montana for years, but thanks to a citizen-based Joint Initiative Team a new understanding on the sharing of the waters in the St. Mary and Milk rivers has never been closer. About 20 southern Alberta irrigation district officials met with the Alberta JIT Nov. 17 at the Ramada for a negotiations update of the Montana – Alberta St. Mary and Milk Rivers Water Management Initiative. |
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Government receives water allocation advice from Alberta water experts
An advisory group, appointed by the Minister of Environment, examined the effectiveness of Alberta’s allocation management system and made recommendations on improvements. The group consisted of nine world-renowned water policy academics, scientists, water-law experts and recognized industry leaders. The Alberta Water Council and Alberta Water Research Institute also recommended ways to better allocate water for social, environmental and economic needs. |
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Alberta Water for Life Action plan
Healthy aquatic ecosystems, conservation and education are priorities in the renewed Water for Life action plan. The strategy and action plan together set the direction for water management in Alberta over the next 10 years. The plan lays out the actions Alberta intends to deliver over the next decade. It includes activities Alberta committed to deliver as part of its original Water for Life strategy and incorporates new actions to address the province’s emerging water challenges and current realities. The action plan also supports regional environmental objectives and Alberta’s cumulative effects management approach.
“Thanks to the success of Water for Life to date, I think all Albertans understand the need and urgency to better manage our water supplies for our communities, environment and prosperity,” said Gord Edwards, executive director of the Alberta Water Council. “This action plan signals a new era for Water for Life that we are both delighted to see and excited to embrace as we continue to work with the Government of Alberta and the entire water community to sustain our water resources long into the future.”
The Alberta Water Council’s 2006-08 implementation review acknowledged that Water for Life implementation is making good progress. The Council identified the need to: integrate and coordinate the management of land, water, air, biodiversity and the cumulative impacts of development; ensure partners have the funds and people needed to complete their work; and encourage Water for Life leaders and champions. They also made recommendations to increase focus on education and protect Alberta’s rivers, lakes and aquifers from overuse and contamination.
For a copy of the renewed strategy and action plan, visit www.waterforlife.alberta.ca. |
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Cochrane sets example on water consumption
Calgary Herald - November 19
The water-strapped town of Cochrane offers a strong example of how to control residential water use with pricing, according to a new report from the Conference Board of Canada. The report, which looks at municipal water and waste-water systems across Canada, notes the town charges households that consume large amounts of water double the price that those using less pay per cubic metre. |
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Government of Alberta - October 23
 Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued a public health advisory that recommends people avoid or limit their consumption of some species of fish caught from specific bodies of water in Alberta. Tests found high enough levels of mercury in certain fish to prompt the advisory. It is recommended pregnant women, women of child-bearing age and children do not eat walleye from the Pine Coulee, northern pike from Twin Valley Reservoirs in southern Alberta, walleye from the Red Deer River at the mouth of the Blindman River, and walleye, sauger and goldeye from the South Saskatchewan River at the Bindloss Ferry and Medicine Hat.
Mercury in fish in Alberta water bodies likely originates from natural sources. Once in a lake, mercury is converted to methylmercury by bacteria or chemical reactions. Fish absorb methylmercury from water as it passes through their gills, or from the prey they eat. Large predatory fish like walleye and northern pike accumulate more methylmercury as they consume smaller fish. |
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Calgary Herald - October 23
 Suncor Energy says it will speed up the reclamation of its toxic tailings ponds through a new technology that squeezes water out in weeks rather than years. Suncor has submitted an application to the ERCB and Alberta Environment to implement “tailings reduction operations” or TRO, an improvement over the consolidated tailings or CT technology it has been using. It wants to start implementing the new technology in 2010, should it receive approval from regulators. |
Lack of consensus may sink Sturgeon River Watershed group
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Edmonton Journal - October 23
 The Sturgeon River Watershed Initiative is one of about 150 volunteer groups that sprang up largely after the province created a Water for Life strategy. The watershed begins east of the Pembina River and ends where the river enters the North Saskatchewan River upstream from Fort Saskatchewan.
Leah Jackson represents the City of St. Albert on the group's board. She said the board spent six months talking about what their values should be without reaching consensus. The group has representatives from six different organizations with divergent points of view, she said. The frustration level reached the point where the board decided to call a special meeting for Nov. 19 to ask members whether or not the group should dissolve. |
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