Deteriorating Water Quality
The Ugly Business of Water (Mis)Management
As Alberta’s population quickly grows, infrastructure demands increase within a confined time space – from schools & medical facilities to large-scale industry and homes. This has lead to brash, unsustainable decisions on water management by the province.
Many of Alberta’s watersheds are already over-allocated for use; some are at critical overload. We can’t afford this kind of mismanagement.
Example: Olds Sewer Pipeline
A prime example of poor decision making is a project to twin two 20″ pipelines from the Anthony Henday water treatment plant to the county of Olds. One of these pipes will divert to a sub-basin, NEVER to be returned to the Red Deer River again. The other will transfer Olds’ cut sewage right back into the river – after reducing the flows!!
We must urge government to find more sustainable alternatives to solve population growth issues.
Our Rivers Are Not A Dumping Ground
Olds is only the beginning. Our rivers are being used as dumping grounds for municipal, agricultural and industrial bi-products and waste. The problem is intensified by agricultural leeching. We already know that the Medicine River is suffering from critical levels of pollutants; the Milk River is worse. We are starting to see similar degradation on the Bow and Crowsnest rivers.
Water treatment plants are being used to try and bandage a gaping wound. Sooner or later the province will need to address the issues cause by de-watering and contamination; we fear that by then it will be too late.
What’s The Impact?
- Severely reduced biodiversity; fewer insect hatches & the disappearance of entire insect species means a far worse angling experience all around
- A constantly degrading potential for supporting a world-class trout fishery on the Red Deer River
- Lost tourism revenue – disappointed anglers are now leaving for BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba & Montana
- Reduced flows & increased pollutants pose serious threats to our environment as a whole!
Oil Execs Controlling Water Research!
The responsibility for water research in this Province lies in the hands of a board that has obvious energy priorities (As noted in the 2011 Edmonton Journal article: Water Research At Risk, Experts Warn). Needless to say, Albertans should be very concerned.