Prepared Winter 2016
The Bow River Basin is Alberta’s most populated basin with growth expected to increase significantly, further pressuring water resources in the basin. To address this growth and the related challenges, the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) is tasked with providing collaborative solutions that incorporate the interests of all rural and urban communities located in the basin.
By the year 2030, the CRP region, located in the Bow River Basin, will be home to 1.6 million people (up from 1.1 million in 2010). What does this mean for water demand in the region?
Throughout the CRP, existing municipal water demand (which includes residential, commercial, and light industrial activities) ranges from 301 to 450 litres per person per day. By comparison, average water demand in Vancouver is 489 litres per person per day, and 301 litres per person per day in Winnipeg.
In 2030 water demand in the Bow River Basin is expected to reach an average of 315 litres per person per day. This does not take into account the potential of technology or public policies such as water reuse that may increase efficiency further, meaning lower amounts of water required to meet population demands.
To address population growth, and meet projected water demands in the Bow River Basin by 2030, each municipality in the CRP must consider their water license allocation. In total, CRP member municipalities hold a water license capacity of 484,037,821 m3. However this statistic does not share the full story.
Having enough water to ‘go around’ for communities presents unique and challenging problems to solve. Some solutions already in play in the Bow River Basin include the Cross Iron Mills mall expansion, which uses water license transfers to receive the amount of water required for the mall to operate. This is one example of the potential for municipalities in the CRP to share water resources so future population growth and water demands can be met. Water reuse may be another strategy for extending available water resources to meet the demands of growing communities. Whichever way, new approaches and efficiencies will be key as decision-makers consider the trade-offs in the Nexus in Alberta.
As a large municipality the City of Calgary has a water license at 460,550,000 m3 whereas smaller municipalities have smaller licenses. For example, the Town of Okotoks has a water license of 3,010,816 m3 and a population of 24,500 people. This licensed amount of water is enough to support 32,000 people, however, if we look at projected population growth without changing current efficiencies, the Town of Okotoks water license will not be large enough by 2030.
Click here to read Behind the Scenes: Alberta Water Nexus Project Pilot’s Assumptions and Constraints.
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.
© 2024 All Rights Reserved.
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.