Making every drop of water count

Demand for water is rising and Alberta is looking at ways to make more water available for farmers, ranchers, businesses and growing communities. The Water Act has not been updated in 25 years and with more families, agri-businesses, food processing plants and many others coming to Alberta, it is important that the system makes every drop count.

While most of the Water Act is working well, government recently heard from over a thousand Albertans who suggested improvements that could potentially help make the system stronger. Alberta’s government is now seeking public feedback on some of the targeted changes put forward by Albertans to maximize the water supply and make more water available to those who need it.

“We need to ensure we have the water we need for people, our environment and our major industries for today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Albertans have given us clear feedback on the Water Act, that it can and should be reviewed, and suggested specific updates for further discussion. We know there are many different views and perspectives, and we’re grateful for the participation and engagement to help us get this right.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

Critical areas are not up for discussion

The foundation of Alberta’s water management system is already working successfully. For example, Alberta’s priority system will continue to be based on principles of first-in-time, first-in-right – a system that has worked well for more than 100 years. There will be no changes considered that reduce anyone’s current water allocations, nor add any new royalties, bulk or volumetric pricing for water.

Alberta’s Water for Life strategy will keep guiding the province’s water system, ensuring healthy, secure and sustainable water supply for communities, economy and aquatic ecosystems. Alberta will also continue to support water allocation transfers in basins with approved water management plans and will continue to require a special act of the legislature for any high-risk inter-basin transfers.

Targeted improvements proposed by Albertans

Having heard from Albertans directly, government is seeking feedback on some of the most commonly raised, or practical, changes that were proposed. The updates could:

• Streamline regulatory decisions on licence amendments and transfers.
• Enhance water use information to support licence and transfer decisions.
• Enable lower risk inter-basin transfers where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
• Enable management of alternative water sources, such as rainwater, stormwater and wastewater reuse.

Albertans can provide feedback on the specific proposals until June 30.

There will also be targeted in-person sessions across the province with Indigenous communities and water using sectors in May. No decisions have been made, and government will review all the feedback before determining what changes, if any, move forward.

This engagement builds off the first phase undertaken in fall 2024 and winter 2025, but there is more work to do. Engagement on other ideas for regulatory, policy and program changes put forward by Albertans to improve water availability may also take place in the future as government works to strengthen the water management system.