CBC - A pipeline to send water to southern Alberta? Ideas float to the surface in times of drought
“It’s one of the ideas that’s been brought forward in terms of one of the ways we can meet those needs, especially in southern Alberta, with water from other basins. This is something we could look at”
Water diversion — redirecting water for various purposes, whether they be municipal, industrial or otherwise — takes place often within sub-basins in the province (the South Saskatchewan River Basin, for example, contains four sub-basins).
In recent water issues, Joel Dryden from the CBC published an article where he shed light on the escalating water scarcity issues in southern Alberta and the potential consideration of interbasin diversion as a solution. Last year, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek faced significant challenges when the Oldman Reservoir's water levels plummeted to their lowest point in two decades, exposing their intakes and rendering them unable to draw water. This situation compelled the district to resort to hauling water into the community via trucks, incurring substantial costs of approximately $7,500 per day.
As the specter of severe drought looms over Alberta, the concept of interbasin diversion has emerged as a topic of discussion among irrigation districts. Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz acknowledges the viability of interbasin diversion as a means to address water scarcity, particularly in the southern region of the province, where demand far outstrips supply. However, she emphasizes the need for careful consideration of the environmental, economic, and social implications associated with such a strategy.
The article further explores the disparity between water supply and demand in Alberta, with over 80 percent of the province's water supply located in the northern half, while 80 percent of the demand originates from the south. This stark contrast underscores the urgency of exploring innovative solutions to meet the growing water needs of southern Alberta's population centers.
Tricia Stadnyk, a hydrologic modelling expert at the University of Calgary, urges caution in pursuing interbasin diversion, highlighting potential challenges such as altering water chemistry, introducing invasive species, and exacerbating drought conditions in donor basins. She stresses the importance of conducting thorough assessments and engaging stakeholders to ensure responsible decision-making in water resource management.
While interbasin diversion presents a potential avenue for alleviating water scarcity in southern Alberta, it necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of its feasibility and potential impacts. The article calls for a balanced approach that considers environmental sustainability, economic viability, and social equity in addressing the complex challenges posed by water scarcity in the province.
In the context of addressing water vulnerability, the Canada1Water (C1W) project continues to be a neccesary national initiative. As we prepare to launch the open access portal, C1W aims to analyze the effects of climate change on Canada's water resources, and allows for decision-makers, policy analysts, and community planners to use our user-friendly tools, while staying informed on evidence-based strategies for ensuring a sustainable water supply in the face of evolving climatic conditions.
Click here to read the article at The CBC
“If we look at drought as a scenario that is going to become more common in this province and across the Canadian Prairies, then what do we do as a long-term mitigation measure?”