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Calgary businesses whose workflows have run dry under current restrictions related to water main repairs have been given a break by the city.
Officials say Calgary has applied for and been granted two temporary diversion licenses (TDLs) to use water from the Bow River for industrial purposes.
This means that commercial users will be able to access supplies of non-potable water at two locations along the river.
The TDLs allow the city to withdraw 200,000 cubic meters or a total of 200 million liters of water.
“This temporary diversion of non-potable water will help reduce the pressure on the potable water system that is being stressed due to the line break,” said Ryan Fournier, press secretary to Alberta’s Environment Minister, Rebecca Schulz.
“(It’s) up to the City of Calgary to track and manage water abstraction and access.”
There is no information on where on the river the water will be drawn from but, according to the province’s guidelines on TDLs, they must “have the least possible impact on the aquatic environment.”
“Recommended sources are: surface runoff dugouts, sloughs and non-fish lakes and creeks. Least recommended are fish-containing lakes and creeks,” the Alberta government’s TDL documentation reads.
TDLs are not required for statutory household use, traditional agricultural use, fire fighting, wells with hand pumps, operation of alternative irrigation systems for surface water for generally grazing livestock, dykes that collect water surface runoff, hydrostatic tests on pipes for diverting water up to 30,000 cubic meters and other uses exempted under the Water Act.
Anyone who diverts water without a TDL from the provincial government can face a fine of up to $50,000 for an individual and up to $500,000 for a corporation.
(With files by Kevin Green)
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-businesses-to-be-allowed-to-use-river-water-during-crisis-1.6933139
