Follow the Drop – Middle Bow River
Middle Bow River
You’ve arrived in the middle section of the Bow River where many different ecosystems and human communities are supported. Here, huge amounts of water are used by humans, and for food and energy production. Although water is heavily consumed in this area and you will see water being used for many different processes, water is part of a cycle and may return back to the river soon.
Despite the cyclical nature of water, meeting the heavy user requirements is challenging due to population growth, economic development, and climate change. Learn more about competing water demands here.
Water quality in this section of the Bow is different from what you experienced in the upper reaches of the river. These changes are caused by human activities and natural events along the way that have added substances to the water. Examples include treated municipal wastewater (wastewater treatment systems have become very advanced but there are still nutrients, microplastics, pharmaceutical products and emerging contaminants in the water when it is returned to the river), and stormwater runoff that can contain garbage, pollution, oil and greases from streets, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides used on lawns, gardens, parks or roadsides.
Fun Fact
Upper reaches of the river: Many tributary streams and rivers join the Bow River along its length and contribute more water. The Jumpingpound River, Nose Creek, Fish Creek, Elbow River, the Highwood River are some of the main tributaries. This contribution leads to higher water quality due to dilution.
Definition
Runoff: The part of precipitation that does not evaporate and is not transpired, but flows through the ground or over the ground surface and returns to bodies of water.
Where next?
As you continue your downstream journey, your next options for movement include checking out one of the many industrial operations along the Bow, joining an irrigation district that supplies water for agricultural use, or you can be used to cool a generation engine at an electric power generation plant.