Water For Life

• safe, secure drinking water

• healthy aquatic ecosystems

• reliable, quality water supplies

Key Ministries Involved: Environment, Economic Development, Transportation, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

Water is an essential component of economic activity. Water is required during the production of many Alberta products. Water from lakes, rivers, and groundwater is used to grow agricultural crops; raise livestock; process food, pulp and petrochemicals; recover oil and for many other purposes. Therefore, there must be adequate amounts of quality water to sustain our economy and support future growth.

To fulfill the goals of the strategy, and meet the specific targets set out by Albertans, the actions outlined in the Water for Life strategy revolve around three core areas of focus:

Knowledge and research
Knowledge to make effective water management decisions

Knowledge about the quality and quantity of Alberta’s water supply is vital to the effective management of our water supply. There are three key pieces to an effective knowledge base - doing the inventory work to fill our information gaps; doing research to ensure we have the knowledge to address new and emerging issues; and ensuring the information is readily accessible by all parties involved in managing Alberta’s water.

Partnerships
Citizens and stakeholders will have opportunities to actively participate in watershed management on a provincial, regional and community basis.

Citizens, communities, industry and government must work together to ensure the right water management decisions are made and to ensure our water resources are being used in a safe and sustainable manner. While the Government of Alberta will remain accountable and oversee water management activities in the province, partnerships are integral to achieving stewardship of our water resources.

Water Conservation
Albertans will be leaders in conservation by using water efficiently and effectively

Water is a precious resource required for humans, the economy and aquatic ecosystems. In some areas of the province, water resources are currently under significant pressure to meet demand. As Alberta’s population and economy continue to grow, demand for this renewable but finite resource will grow. Water conservation measures provide a pro-active tool to Albertans for meeting our projected future water needs.

Target	Action
Short-Term 2004/05 - 2006/07	Knowledge & Research
Efforts to protect aquatic ecosystems in critical areas are underway	Determine the full cost of providing water through Alberta's water management infrastructure Establish a provincial, multi-disciplinary water research centre Develop a provincial water research plan Establish a public awareness and education program to ensure Albertans have easy access to water resource information and services Complete an assessment of Alberta's surface water quality
	Partnerships
	Authorize water allocation transfers within all watersheds Develop and implement transboundary agreements in cooperation with neighbouring jurisdictions Continue to manage water resources on the "first-in-time, first-in-right" principle, and in accordance with the provincial Water Act Evaluate, as part of the watershed planning process, water management infrastructure needs Establish a provincial Water Advisory Council Complete a partnership framework, outlining the roles, responsibilities and relationships between government and its partners Establish watershed planning and advisory committees for the Milk, Oldman. Bow,Red Deer, Battle, North Saskatchewan, Cold Lake, Beaver River, and Lesser Slave Lake watersheds Complete watershed management plans for the South Saskatchewan, Battle, Cold Lake-Beaver, and Lesser Slave Lake watersheds
	Water Conservation
	Establish a system to monitor and report actual water use by all sectors on an on-going basis Determine and report on the true value of water in relation to the provincial economy Complete an evaluation and make recommendations on the merit of economic instruments to meet water conservation and productive objectives Establish a public awareness and education program on water conservation in Alberta

Target	Action
Medium-Term 2007/08 - 2009/10	Knowledge & Research
Water management objectives and priorities for sustaining aquatic ecosystems are established through watershed plans	Monitor, evaluate and report on the water allocation transfer system Establish a provincial water information centre that brings together information from both private and public sources Report research results to Albertans Update water quality programs to support watershed protection and planning
	Partnership
	Administer and operate Alberta's water management system to meet transboundary agreements Establish watershed planning and advisory committees for the Athabasca and Peace watersheds Complete watershed management plans for the Milk, Oldman, Bow, Red Deer and North Saskatchewan watersheds Support watershed stewardship groups to improve the condition of local watersheds
	Water Conservation
	Prepare water conservation and productivity plans for all water using sectors Implement economic instruments as necessary to meet water conservation and productivity objectives

Target	Action
Long-Term 2010/11 - 2013/14	Knowledge & Research
Water is managed and allocated to sustain aquatic ecosystems and ensure their contribution to Alberta's natural capital and quality of life are maintained Albertans have the knowledge and tools to implement actions to maintain or improve Alberta's water resources	Review the water allocation transfer system to ensure a viable market that moves water to support sustainable economic development Complete flood risk maps and warnings systems for all communities where a flood risk exists Understand the state of the quality and quantity of all surface water supply in all major basins Understand the state of the quality and quantity of Alberta's groundwater supply
	Partnership
	Manage Alberta's water infrastructure - both provincial and district-owned-for long-term sustainability Complete watershed management plans for all major watersheds Establish an adaptive management system for identifying issues, gathering information, developing and implementing action plans, and evaluating management actions
	Water Conservation
	Establish an on-going monitoring program to ensure all sectors are achieving water conservation and productivity objectives

Environment Home | Search | Contact Us | Privacy Statement

The user agrees to the terms and conditions set out in the Copyright and Disclaimer statement.

© 2006 Government of Alberta