Finding Solutions

Repairing leaks, taking shorter showers, keeping an eye on what’s running into the storm drain. Albertans are awash in tips on how to save and protect water at home.

Solving the bigger picture may seem more daunting, but water experts say a provincial document already points the way.

The Water for Life strategy was released in 2003 after more than two years of consultation. The ultimate goal for 2015? To reduce water use in Alberta by 30 per cent of 2005 levels.

LINK: Water for Life

Robert Sandford, chair of the United Nations water initiative in Canada, calls it an excellent strategy for dealing with Alberta’s water problems.

“It’s been evaluated worldwide and many people see the merits in it, but it needs to be funded,” he said.

Among the recommendations in the Water for Life strategy:

• A public education program on water conservation.
• Preparing water saving plans for sectors that use lots of water.
• Studying the merit of “economic instruments” to meet the 2015 goal.
• Establishing a provincial, multidisciplinary water research centre.

Since the strategy was released, the province has spent $15 million on Water for Life. Another $171 million has been earmarked for spending over the next three years.

Acting on the suggestions in the strategy will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, said Danielle Droitsch, head of the not-for-profit community group Bow Riverkeeper.

“We have a lot of work to do,” said Droitsch. “My fear is that the government has lost interest in funding this initiative.”

A changing attitude?

Are Albertans ready to change how they think about and use water?

“I think they support the attitude that we can do better by conservation methods,” said Alberta’s Environment Minister Guy Boutilier.

“We have to strike the balance of protecting our basin and at the same time allowing economic development to take place.”

Albertans are going to have to learn to share a resource that in the past was abundant, said David Hill, executive director of Alberta Irrigation Projects Association.

“Now we are in a position where we don’t have to just talk about making the same water do more, we have to walk the walk. We have to help make it happen, and that will happen by everyone doing their part.”

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