Sectoral Water Allocations

Indicator Type: Environmental Pressure

This indicator shows the change in total water allocations over time. The allocation totals are broken down into the major sectors representing the types of usage for water in Alberta.

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Trend: Generally increasing across most basins and most sectors

For the breakdown of sectoral water allocations in each of Alberta's major river basins, click on the basin of interest:

What does the indicator show?

After a slight decline in the volume of total water allocated in 2005, allocations in Alberta increased by 1.6% in 2006 to 9.66 billion m³. It is not expected that there has been a change in long-term growth in water demand. Following the initial granting of water to irrigation districts in the early part of the century, the amount of water allocated for use was relatively stable until the 1950's and 1960's. At that time, industrial development and urbanization of Alberta began in earnest. Demand for water has continued to increase ever since. The demand, however, is uneven across the province. The majority of allocated water is located in the southern and central portions of the province. This corresponds to where most of the population lives and works. The sectors with the largest amount of water allocated to them are for irrigation, cooling uses for power generation, and municipal water supply.

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Why is this indicator important?

Allocations do not directly reflect actual use or consumption of water. However, they are an indication of the relative amounts of water dedicated to a type of use and they depict the growth in general water demand over time. Allocations represent the maximum amount of water that has been granted for use by a particular sector. However, often the entire allocation is not required in all years. In addition, many water users will return some or most of their diverted water back to the environment following its use in the user's systems. There must also be enough natural supply available in order to take an allocated amount. In years where supply may be less than normal, water received can vary based on other allocations and licensed demands in the basin, instream flow requirements and any apportionment agreements. Total allocations remain a useful measure because they represent full entitlements that have been granted. These entitlements are what can be demanded under the terms of the license, even if the full volume is not currently being utilized.

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What actions are being taken?

The indicator provides supporting information for an important component of Alberta Environment's Water for Life strategy. The Alberta Government has established a long-term goal of improving water productivity by 30 per cent between 2005 and 2015. "Water productivity" is the amount of water needed to produce a certain good, service or societal value. Improved productivity can be achieved by becoming more efficient in how water is used, by conserving water, and by recycling and reusing water. By identifying this target, the provincial government is giving guidance to the sector plans that will be developed by stakeholders. Data reflecting actual water usage is being collected to assist in measuring current and forecasted productivity.

Alberta Environment and the Alberta Water Council are working to facilitate water conservation and productivity plans and to establish targets for improvement for all water-use sectors. In river basins and watersheds that have already reached the limit of how much water can be taken, Alberta Environment consults with stakeholders before deciding whether to close the basin to new water licenses. To allow growth and economic activity to continue when water supply has been restricted, the Water Act allows water to be transferred from existing licenses that may be underutilized or of lower value to new uses that should result in greater productivity.

Moratoriums on new surface water licenses are already in place for some sub-basins of the South Saskatchewan River watershed. A moratorium for the entire basin is being considered.

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Links to additional information

Alberta Environment's Water Quantity Web Pages: http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/gwsw/quantity/index.html

Water Act Legislation - Alberta Environment: http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/Legislation/index.cfm

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Feedback

E-mail the SOE Coordinator: SOE.Coordinator@gov.ab.ca or complete this short on-line questionnaire to provide your feedback: http://www.zoomerang.com/
survey.zgi?p=WEB224DW6P3E2K.

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