Alberta to review rules on water in oil sands

National Post- September 1

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said Wednesday his government will rewrite the rules governing water in the oil sands region should the province’s own environmental data prove faulty when compared to a recent critical study out of the University of Alberta. Mr. Stelmach said he wants government scientists to work with David Schindler, the professor of biological sciences at Edmonton’s U of A who released a report arguing the Athabasca River is far more polluted because of oil sands activity than government and industry claim.

The Premier noted pollutants seep into the Athabasca River naturally. Indeed, glistening tar-like bitumen is easily spotted dripping down the banks of the river, which flows through Fort McMurray and surrounding First Nations communities on its way to the Arctic Ocean. However, critics charge this does not account for all the toxins found in the Athabasca River. They argue the chemicals in tailings ponds, where wastewater is treated over decades, leak into the river, and airborne pollutants also find their way into the waterways.

Minister advises mediation

Bonnyville Nouvelle- August 31

Bonnyville Town council plans to seek mediation with the City of Cold Lake and the Cold Lake Regional Utilities Commission in an attempt to secure the municipality’s long-term water supply. Town council discussed the response from Environment minister Rob Renner to Mayor Ernie Isley’s request earlier this summer for direction on Bonnyville’s water woes at its meeting Aug. 24. Council voted to invite Cold Lake to mediation and also to ask Alberta Transportation to fund and study the option of upgrading the existing water plant at Moose Lake to identify the cost of that option.

Isley wrote both Renner and Transportation minister Luke Ouellette requesting direction for water options earlier this summer. Isley explained to the ministers that the Town’s three options were to get the Cold Lake waterline application resubmitted by government order, to create a new commission to bring raw or treated water to Bonnyville, or to upgrade the existing Bonnyville water treatment plant and continue to draw water from Moose Lake. Renner stated Alberta Environment has heard concerns about the taste and odour of Bonnyville’s current drinking water, but also that the current water treatment plant continues to provide safe and secure drinking water. He said although high organic content in Moose Lake’s raw water supply affect the water supply due to constraints in treatment efficiency, plant upgrades could remedy the problem. However, the letter also states that due to Bonnyville’s aging water treatment facilities and the less suitable raw water of Moose Lake, “Alberta Environment supports the completion of the regional water supply line to the Town of Bonnyville,” and that “Cold Lake generally has very stable water levels, and it is a very sustainable source of water of municipal and industrial use.”

New Calgary utility to offer water services to surrounding areas

Calgary Herald- August 30

Although Calgary has long made one-off deals for water and wastewater lines to nearby communities, council last month authorized the creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary to pursue further deals that share Calgary's ample water-permit capacity. But since the water-sharing strategy is based on the Calgary Regional Partnership's long-term growth blueprint, the water won't be available to Calgary's development-hungry but water-thirsty rural neighbours Rocky View and Foothills.

Both districts opted out of the partnership, partly because of the plan's proposal to focus growth in certain areas as a way of curbing rural sprawl. "We need the economy of scale -- we're not going to be providing it for a few here and a few there," said Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway, a Calgary delegate to the regional alliance. But the water will be available to the counties if they agree to the growth plan, said the partnership's executive director. Paul Fesko, the city's manager of strategic water services, said the new system will charge different utility rates to regional partners based on the costs of servicing and building new lines -- replacing the standard out-of-city rates the city now charges. The plan is still in early stages. Once the new utility is established next year -- pending provincial approval -- the city will sell it the water licences needed by other communities, for an undetermined price. Sale proceeds will go into a new city-run trust that will fund watershed protection initiatives. Details of how that would operate are still in the works, Fesko said.