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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Some Lake Erie anglers consider algae blooms helpful — but what are the health implications?
CBC News
Despite often being described as smelly and not nice to look at, Eric Hirzel and Matthew Hehn say they find algae blooms helpful when it comes to catching more fish in Lake Erie. Both are longtime charter fishing captains who patrol the lake’s western basin, primarily pulling walleye (pickerel) and yellow perch from the water. Algae blooms are caused when algae grow quickly in water systems from excess nutrient run-off, like phosphorus or nitrogen from fertilizer. Click here to continue reading
Resolution to Iqaluit’s water crisis still ‘years’ away: Nunavut MLA
CTV News
In April, the city of about 7,700 people, as of the 2016 census, said its water treatment plant would return to service after shutting down due to fuel contamination. Although the federal government last year announced $214 million to fix the city’s water infrastructure, Lightstone says it will still take time for that project to finish. Click here to continue reading
Buffalo Lake faces concerning decline in water levels amid heatwave
East Central Alberta Review
As Alberta endures an unrelenting heatwave and dry conditions this summer, Buffalo Lake is grappling with a concerning decline in water levels, hovering near the lower end of the normal range for this time of year, according to Jason Penner, communication advisor for Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. Click here to continue reading
Paintearth county’s farmers persevere through challenging drought
East Central Alberta Review
The farming community in the County of Paintearth is facing an unprecedented crisis as the region grapples with a severe drought that has led to substantial crop damage and threatened the livelihoods of local producers. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Waters off the coast of Florida as hot as a hot tub, and more heat news from around the world
CBC News
The water temperature off southern Florida has been about 38 C two days in a row: that’s as hot as a hot tub, as hot as the maximum recommended heat for a baby’s bath, and hotter than what’s usually recommended for a pregnant woman. It’s also, meteorologists say, possibly the hottest seawater ever measured. Click here to continue reading
Automated analysis of microplastic concentrations
Science Daily
How high are concentrations of microplastics in the environment, in our drinking water or in foods? Researchers have developed an automated analysis method for the identification and quantification of particles. Click here to continue reading
A crucial system of ocean currents is heading for a collapse that ‘would affect every person on the planet’
CTV News
A vital system of ocean currents could collapse within a few decades if the world continues to pump out planet-heating pollution, scientists are warning – an event that would be catastrophic for global weather and “affect every person on the planet.” Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Tennessee residents unable to drink or use tap water following diesel fuel spill
The Guardian
A diesel fuel spill that contaminated the water supply system of Germantown, Tennessee, has left residents unable to drink their tap water as the city’s public works crew rush to flush out the contaminated water. Click here to continue reading
Irrigators asked to drop straw, feed livestock
The Western Producer
The largest irrigation district in Saskatchewan is encouraging members to drop straw this harvest season. The South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District No. 1 said July 26 it asks all irrigators to drop straw to help feed livestock this winter. SSRID’s office will co-ordinate the process to get feed where it needs to go. Click here to continue reading
County of Stettler talks culling herds, writing off crops as drought disaster deepens
East Central Alberta Review
At their regular council meeting July 12 the County of Stettler’s assessment of the agriculture disaster facing not just the municipality but the province in general was depressing if not heartbreaking, as the topics of culling herds, shutting down operations, and writing off crops were all mentioned. Click here to continue reading