The need to balance resource usage is a challenge faced by every community in the world. In particular, our water resources are limited and they are being utilized by many groups including individuals, communities and industry.
To explore and understand the interconnectedness of water users in Alberta, the Water Nexus Project was launched by the now Canada WaterPortal Society.
The project was a first in Alberta. Starting with a pilot in the Bow River Basin, the Project aims to show how converging water use from different sectors and entities impacts water availability on a regional basis.
We recognize that there is no clear solution a specific sector, industry, or level of government, can implement on their own. We hope this project will reinforce that water-use decisions have multiple, potentially unpredictable impacts on other water users and the environment.
The Bow River Basin is affected by a number of converging factors making it a very interesting study area, including water resource distribution, significant agriculture industry, and that the available surface water is now fully allocated. Click here to learn more about the converging factors in the Bow River Basin.
Water management in the Bow River Basin is largely done through provincial government legislation and administered by government agencies. Because the water resources are already allocated, managing water licences to allow for new development activities is a significant challenge. Click here to learn more about water management decisions in the Bow River basin.
A stakeholder engagement workshop was held in July, 2017 to gain insight on further work needed to increase public understanding of the water Nexus in Alberta. Click here to see an outline the various activities from the workshop, a few of the creative and thoughtful ideas, and some of the key themes and outcomes.
The Alberta Water Nexus Project is being conducted in three phases.
Phase I was completed in 2016 and resulted in:
Phase I was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Fondation Veolia, and Enbridge.
View the phase I simulation tool by clicking here.
Phase II was completed in early 2018. It focused on improving and expanding the work done in Phase I, including:
Phase II was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Alberta Innovates, and an anonymous donor.
Try the phase II simulator tool for yourself to see how water is impacted by the actions of people, communities and industry!
Phase III commenced soon after the completion of Phase II and focused on:
Phase III was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Nutrien, Enbridge and the Carlson Family Foundation along with the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
We provide Canadian educational resources on water practices to promote conservation and sustainability. Our team crafts current and relevant content, while encouraging feedback and engagement.
The Canada WaterPortal is a registered charity, #807121876RR0001
We recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples and communities on whose land our work takes place.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.