Protecting Our Water
The water policy for the Liberal Caucus.
More than gold, more than silver, more than the province’s oil and gas reserves … water is our most precious natural resource. And now, more than ever, we must take steps to protect it.
The Alberta Liberal Caucus Water Policy is guided by the following principles:
- The government holds our water in trust to ensure a healthy environment and healthy people.
- Sustainability of our water resource is paramount, and decisions on use or allocation will involve environmental protection of and conservation.
- The public has a reasonable expectation to be involved in decisions about water supply.
- New water management legislation must recognize the environmental values of this precious provincial resource.
That means:
- Ensuring water quality.
- Preserving biological diversity.
- Ensuring an ample supply of pure drinking water.
- Determining, restoring and protecting in-stream needs.
- Developing and sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.
- Protecting heritage, aesthetic and recreational values and the role water plays in economic growth.
Ensuring water quality
Provincial testing processes for drinking water need to be reviewed.
Alberta needs safe drinking water, access to testing facilities, and prompt turnaround for test results.
Watershed Stakeholders
The following stakeholders must work together to reduce the impact of development, economic activities and land use on water quality:
- wastewater operators
- drinking-water treatment-plant operators
- livestock and crop producers
- rural residents
- land owners
- industries
Clear lines of communication and co-operation between health authorities and Environment must be established to ensure water quality issues are dealt with promptly.
The process for notifying the public about water quality concerns must be improved.
Sustainability and Conservation
We recognize that water is a scarce and valuable resource. The Alberta Liberal Caucus vision for water management includes:
- Alberta’s ground water resources are mapped so we understand how much water we have and where it is located.
- All connections to a public water supply are metered.
- Equipment meets efficiency guidelines.
- Water-intensive industries are reviewed to ensure they are using the best available technology.
- Watershed management plans are published on a scheduled timeline.
- Priorities for use of water are given to users on the condition that strict conservation measures are implemented.
Environmental Protection
Protecting our water resource and the landscape it sustains ensures a healthy environment.
That means:
- Saying no to bulk water sales and no to interbasin transfers.
- Ensuring that crown resource dispositions (forestry, mines, minerals, and public land resources) are registered.
- Establishing and protecting in-stream flows before allocating any excess.
Public Participation
The Alberta Liberal Caucus vision for water management includes:
- Published applications for diversions or withdrawals and new uses, prior to approval.
- Fair and open public hearings, with intervener funding made available.
- Advance notice of meetings, information used by decision-makers, and meaningful input into decision-making given to all Albertans, not just those directly affected.
Environment Policy
- We must recognize the value of wetlands to our ecosystem.
- We must not reduce our potential to regulate wetland drainage.
- Biodiversity protection must be included in legislation as required by the Biodiversity Convention, which Canada has signed. That means the protection species and organisms whenever possible.
- Aesthetic aspects, such as appearance and smells, economic, and tourism interests, must be included in the provincial water policy.