Water News
Alberta Water News is a free, subscription-based service that provides the latest information on water news across Alberta and upcoming events.
The news is distributed weekly on Mondays via a collated email and Monday to Friday via WaterPortal social media (X was Twitter). Please note that news will not be distributed on Holiday Mondays and will be released the following Tuesday.
Subscribe here for the free service, or follow the WaterPortal on your preferred social media platform.
Lacombe tackling water loss
Red Deer Advocate
Billions of litres of treated drinking water are being lost in Canadian communities every year. The City of Lacombe is among those municipalities trying to get a handle on the problem and find ways to stem the flow of losses. Click here to continue reading
Our oceans are the warmest in recorded history. This is why it’s so concerning
CBC News
Our oceans are running a fever. And just like when we run a fever, it’s indicative that something is very wrong. On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that July ocean temperatures were the hottest they’ve ever been. Click here to continue reading
Blue-green algae advisory issued for Alix Lake
Red Deer Advocate
Blue-green algae has been found in Alix Lake and prompted an advisory from Alberta Health Services. AHS issued the advisory on Monday, telling visitors and residents to the lake that they should avoid all contact with blooms, avoid swimming or wading where blooms are visible and avoid giving fish from the lake to pets. Click here to continue reading
90% of Great Lakes water samples have unsafe microplastic levels – report
The Guardian
About 90% of water samples taken over the last 10 years from the Great Lakes contain microplastic levels that are unsafe for wildlife, a new peer-reviewed paper from the University of Toronto finds. Click here to continue reading
Water conservation plan initiated in Lethbridge and area
CTV News
The City of Lethbridge is asking residents and business owners to cut down on their water usage in the midst of drought-like conditions. Officials announced the measures on Thursday as “extended dry, hot weather conditions” are having an impact on southern Alberta’s water supplies. All of the rules are voluntary, the city said, and will work to prevent a mandatory conservation plan in the future. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Water Quality in Coal Creek Following the 2021 Marshall Fire
Natural Hazards Center
The Marshall Fire was the largest of multiple fires that spread through Boulder County on December 30, 2021, destroying over 1,000 structures and raising concerns regarding the water quality and ecosystem health of Coal Creek. This stream and wetland habitat play a crucial role in supporting sensitive species and are important for recreation and agriculture within the affected region. This study was designed to monitor the impacts of the fire on water quality at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where constituents (some of which may be contaminants) can enter the stream from both wildland and urban sources. Click here to continue reading
City of Calgary declares Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions
City of Calgary
The quality of The City’s drinking water remains high; this is an issue of quantity, not quality. These restrictions apply to all customers that use water from The City of Calgary including all Calgary residences, businesses and City operations. Calgarians can still use water outdoors during Stage 1; however, there are restrictions on how and when water can be used as outlined in the Water Utility Bylaw. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Extreme water stress faced by countries home to quarter of world population
The Guardian
Twenty-five countries that are home to a quarter of the world’s population are facing extreme water stress, according to new research. Data from the World Resources Institute suggests these countries are regularly using 80% of their water supplies each year. WRI’s Aqueduct water risk map reveals demand for water is increasing around the world and has more than doubled since 1960. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Great Lakes gets its first wind farm – but some fear environmental fallout
The Guardian
With a surface water area larger than the entire UK, the five Great Lakes might seem like an obvious location for offshore wind. The US Department of Energy says that the lakes collectively boast the potential to provide 700 gigawatts of offshore electricity – enough to power millions of homes. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: United Utilities fined £800,000 for taking 22bn litres of water from aquifer
The Guardian
United Utilities has been fined £800,000 after illegally abstracting 22bn litres of water in Lancashire, causing damage to an important aquifer that will take years to recover. The illegal removal of water from the Fylde aquifer, which happened during a period of dry weather in 2018, is likely to have negatively affected river flows. Click here to continue reading