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| Barrier |
Seebe—Kananaskis River
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| Bearspaw |
Calgary—Bow River
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| Bighorn |
Nordegg—North Saskatchewan River
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| Brazeau |
Drayton Valley—North Saskatchewan River
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| Cascade |
Banff National Park—Bow River
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| Ghost |
Cochrane—Bow River
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| Horseshoe |
Seebe—Bow River
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| Interlakes |
Kananaskis—Kananaskis River
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| Kananaskis |
Seebe—Bow River
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| Pocaterra |
Kananaskis—Kananaskis River
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| Rundle |
Canmore—Bow River
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| Spray |
Canmore—Bow River
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| Three Sisters |
Canmore—Bow River |
Together, Alberta’s hydroelectric generating facilities are capable of producing approximately five per cent of Alberta’s electricity requirements. Each development is unique and is capable of producing different amounts of electricity. These generating plants are very important for supplying electrical energy during periods of sudden demand. They can begin producing within a matter of minutes.
Thirteen large water power or hydroelectric generation developments are owned and operated by TransAlta Corporation. The smaller facilities are owned by other independent power producers.
Water available for electricity generation in rivers and reservoirs is variable. Differences in season and changes in precipitation can greatly affect the water volume within the rivers and storage reservoirs. During periods of low river flow, reservoirs can release additional flow if water is available.
When the Bighorn Water Power Development was built, it created Abraham Lake, Alberta’s largest constructed reservoir. Many such reservoirs are popular places for recreational activities. Albertans enjoy using these reservoir areas for boating, windsurfing, sailing, fishing and even camping. It is important to note, as with any reservoir, that because these lakes were built as part of a power project, their levels are always changing.
Alberta Environment administers the Alberta Water Act, which provides the authority to divert water for hydroelectric developments. The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board reviews the overall benefits of a proposed project and provides approval under Alberta’s Hydro and Electric Energy Act.
Dams are always a controversial subject. The debate over the economic benefits versus the environmental impacts is never ending. There is no doubt that dams and reservoirs for electricity generation or other purposes drastically changes how much water flows into a river and when it will flow.
Before a dam is built, all aspects of the nearby terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are analyzed to assess potential and cumulative impacts. This way, Albertans can get the electricity they depend on, while minimizing environmental impacts.
Albertans use water every day for drinking, cooking, washing, sanitation and yard use. Although it may not seem that way, a very small percentage of the water used in this province is for domestic purposes.
There are two major sources of drinking water, surface water and groundwater.
Surface water comes from lakes, reservoirs and rivers. Most of Alberta’s population gets water from surface water sources. Groundwater comes from either wells or springs, which are fed by underground water sources.
In Alberta, approximately two million people get their drinking water from large municipal systems. The efficiency of larger systems provide a reliable and safe supply of water at a relatively low expense, because there are so many users. Approximately 400,000 Albertans get their water from smaller water treatment plants, which is relatively costly to the operator. The remaining 600,000 Albertans obtain their water from private systems such as wells, water co-ops or by hauling.
The main reason for treating or disinfecting public water supplies is to kill pathogens, which are disease-causing organisms transmitted by water. Some examples of water-borne diseases and disease causing organisms are cholera, typhoid, E.Coli, Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
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