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.
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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
Flood insurance could soon be available to all property owners in Canada
CBC News
As Nova Scotia continues to clean up after last month’s destructive flooding, the federal government and the Insurance Bureau of Canada are working on a way to make insurance coverage for that kind of damage possible. Currently, standard insurance policies generally do not cover storm surge and overland flooding because it is considered too high risk. Click here to continue reading
Firefighters hoping for rain for ‘reprieve’ in battling wildfires in Alberta-N.W.T.
Sylvan News
Evacuations have been ordered for Fort Smith, Enterprise, Jean Marie River and Hay River. Many highways have been closed by the fires and the territory is mounting what officials have called the largest airlift in its history. Canadian Forces personnel are helping firefighters and flying evacuees out on Hercules aircraft. Click here to continue reading
Green lawn paint makes it easy to be the envy of the neighbourhood amid water restrictions in B.C.
CTV News
Despite water restrictions, a house in Surrey’s Fraser Heights neighbourhood has a lush-looking lawn – but it’s not because the owners ran their sprinklers illegally. Instead they hired a company to paint their parched brown grass green. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Irrigating more US crops by mid-century will be worth the investment
Science Daily
With climate change, irrigating more crops in the United States will be critical to sustaining future yields, as drought conditions are likely to increase due to warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns. Yet less than 20% of croplands are equipped for irrigation. Click here to continue reading