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.
Italy floods: emergency services continue rescue efforts in flood-hit region – video
The Guardian
Italian authorities are continuing rescue operations across the flood-hit northern Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Footage recorded by the Italian coastguard showed helicopters rescuing people from their roofs, including a pregnant woman and an elderly couple. At least nine people have been killed by the floods and close to 5,000 evacuated from their homes. Click here to continue reading
Opinion: Stop forcing farmers to choose between economic viability and wetland protection
Calgary Herald
The Alberta earth is greening again. Farmers are back on the land seeding their crops. In the skies above, pintail, teal, northern shoveler and mallard ducks wheel before dropping into temporary sloughs, key components of their territories for nesting season. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Devastating floods in Italy claim lives and leave thousands homeless
The Guardian
Eight people have died and thousands have been evacuated from their homes after heavy storms wreaked havoc in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, causing severe flooding and landslides. Click here to continue reading
Testing may shed light on Medicine River’s brown colour
Red Deer Advocate
Central Alberta’s Medicine River will be tested this summer to try to solve the mystery of its distinctive brown colour and whether agriculture plays a role. Medicine River Watershed Society volunteers undertook limited testing last year that appeared to show river quality had improved since the last extensive round of testing in 2006 and 2007, said society board member Dana Kreil. Click here to continue reading
Suspected Prussian carp found in Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake News
A suspected Prussian Carp specimen was found dead near the pier in Sylvan Lake on April 23. Fisherman Reuben Braitenback was told by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas that the fish, which was found his coworker, is the first ever suspected Prussian Carp specimen from Sylvan Lake. Click here to continue reading
Great Basin: History of water supply in one of the driest regions in the USA
Science Daily
An international team has reconstructed the evolution of groundwater in the Great Basin, USA — one of the driest regions on Earth — up to 350,000 years into the past with unprecedented accuracy. The results shed new light on the effects of climate change on water supply and provide important insights for the sustainable use of groundwater resources. Click here to continue reading
New pump station coming to Strathcona, City of Vancouver
Water Canada
Constructed in 1962, the existing pump station is beyond its useful service life and is undergoing a $7.8 million dollar replacement as part of the City’s Capital Plan which maps out significant investments in Vancouver’s infrastructure and amenities. Work will be underway until the fall of 2024. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Satellite images show California’s ‘ghost lake’ reappearing after sodden winter
The Guardian
New satellite images released from Nasa this week showcase the dramatic reappearance of California’s Tulare Lake after water swallowed swaths of land across the state’s agricultural center that had long been dry. Click here to continue reading
Manitoba Government waiving fees for private well, cistern water testing
Water Canada
The Manitoba government is providing additional support to flood-impacted private well and cistern owners by fully subsidizing costs associated with testing their water supply to ensure it is safe to drink, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein announced. Click here to continue reading
Revolutionizing water worker safety using innovative tech
Water Canada
The workers responsible for providing clean water to our communities and homes often work long hours and may work alone. They are exposed to various occupational hazards, including slips, trips, and falls, violence, assault, and mental health challenges. As a result, ensuring their safety can be a complex issue, but is achievable through careful planning, the implementation of appropriate safety policies, and leveraging the right technology. Click here to continue reading