Province seeks feedback on water
By Lethbridge Herald on May 7, 2025.
Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald
The Alberta government is seeking feedback from residents on potential improvements to the provincial water act.
The government says that while most of the act works well, it’s heard from many Albertans that potential improvements could make it stronger.
As a result, the government is looking for feedback on targeted changes that have been put forward to maximize available water supplies and make water more ready available to those who need it.
Feedback will be accepted until June 30.
The province says updates could take various forms including the streamlining of regulatory decisions on licence amendments and transfers, enhancing water use use information to support licence and transfer decisions, and enabling lower risk inter-basin transfers when safe and appropriate.
Other updates could include the enabling of alternative water sources such as stormwater and wastewater re-use.
Targeted in-person sessions are being planned in May with water-using sectors and Indigenous communities.
The government says that it will review feedback before determining if any changes will be brought forward.
With demand for water increasing, the government wants to look at ways to make more available for communities and businesses as well as farmers and ranchers. The present Water Act was last updated 25 years ago.
“We need to ensure we have the water we need for people, our environment and our major industries for today, tomorrow and for generations to come,” says Rebecca Shulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “Albertans have given us clear feedback on the Water Act, that it can and should be reviewed, and suggested specific updates for further discussion. We know there are many different views and perspectives, and we’re grateful for the participation and engagement to help us get this right.”
The province says critical areas aren’t up for discussion, meaning that no changes will be considered that reduce anyone’s present water allocation. And the government won’t add royalties, bulk or volumetric pricing for water.
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It’s great to see the province actively seeking public input on such a critical issue. Water management is becoming more important than ever, especially with growing demand and climate pressures. I hope the changes lead to a more efficient and transparent system while still protecting our natural resources. I’ll definitely be submitting feedback, thanks for highlighting the deadline! Doctiplus
The obvious solution to conserve the amount and quality of water in the Oldman vicinity is to not allow mining near the headwaters of the Oldman River.
This applies to other areas of the Rockies that are currently allocated for mining.
It’’s Alberta’s only water source besides rain. Why would any rational government threaten it?
what’s the big deal with water – we mine the coal into gold, and, as kent brockman once noted, we can all have golden showers
It is good to survey all Albertans on the topic but I do not trust Danielle and the UCP with receiving the results.
An independent and reliable committee should review the results.Maybe Elections Alberta.