What is the Government of Alberta doing to manage water use by industry to ensure the quantity and quality of our water resources for Albertans now and in the future?
Water use by the oil and natural gas industry is well regulated through a system of licensing and monitoring that ensures all industry sectors achieve provincial water conservation and productivity objectives. Alberta Environment is the provincial government department responsible for allocating and licensing the use of surface water and non-saline groundwater. Under the provincial Water Act, users of water in Alberta (i.e. agriculture, municipal, oil and gas users) must apply for a licence to divert either surface water (water from lakes, rivers and wetlands) or groundwater (fresh water obtained from underground aquifers). Alberta’s Water Act focuses on the planning, use and enforcement needed to manage and protect Alberta’s water resources. The act governs and provides direction on the implementation of Alberta’s Water for Life strategy supporting three main outcomes of a safe, secure drinking water supply, healthy aquatic ecosystems and reliable, quality water supplies for a sustain
