Achi news desk-
The Alberta government has announced what it calls the largest water-sharing agreement in the province’s history, but some say it doesn’t go far enough.
This will mean that in a severe drought, municipalities would reduce the use of water.
Municipalities, irrigation districts and industry players have signed a memorandum of understanding covering four sub-basins – the Red Deer River, the Bow River, the main component of the Oldman River and the Oldman’s upper tributaries.
The deals are being billed as the largest of their kind in Alberta history and dwarf those inked during the 2001 drought.
“These agreements – they didn’t come together overnight,” said Rebecca Schulz, the province’s environment minister, at a news conference on Friday. “They represent countless hours of negotiation, compromise and a shared belief that Albertans are better off working together in a potential time of water scarcity.”
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Schulz said municipalities have agreed to cut their water use by five to 10 percent if necessary – targets that would not affect indoor water use. Some have already started to do so proactively, he added.
Geophysicist Jenny Yeremiy says this agreement does not go far enough and that the province needs to look further ahead.
“It’s like a parent standing at the top of the stairs and saying, ‘You kids figure this out or I’m going to come down and take care of it for you,'” Yeremiy said.
“Going into this with several years ahead of us, and not taking the maximum precautions possible, which is for me to stop using water in every way I can, is very important.”
Industries have agreed to use the minimum amount necessary to operate safely and responsibly. Irrigation districts have agreed to allow other users to have a first crack, then reserve the rest for licensed use.
Schulz said it won’t be known whether the agreements will require action until snowpack data comes in later this month. Water amounts are to be updated every two weeks starting in May.
Yeremiy has raised concerns that the oil industry is getting a pass through the agreement and will not have to save as much water.
On his radio show Your State Your Prime Minister on 630 CHED and 770 QR Calgary, Premier Danielle Smith said that industrial use is only a small amount of water use in the province, but changes will come if needed.
“If we go into water restrictions and I have to declare an emergency, we have discussed this as cabinet, the priority will be the habitats of humans, livestock and fish,” said Smith.
“If we can be in the field by May 1, putting seed in the ground that’s a great year, anything earlier is a bonus,” said Joe Bendoritis, a farmer in central Alberta. “We need the moisture in May, June, July and August.
“Things look mostly dry but normal for the time of year.”
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
