albertas strategy for sustainability

1

• albertas strategy for sustainability
• APEGGA February 17, 2004

2
Water for Life Outcomes

• Safe, secure drinking water supply
• Healthy aquatic ecosystems
• Reliable, quality water supplies for a
  sustainable economy

3
Core Areas of Focus

• Knowledge and research
• Partnerships for watershed management and
  stewardship
• Water Conservation

4
Safe, Secure Drinking Water Supply

• Source protection
• working with all Albertans because we all impact
  water quality by the activities we do.
• Lead the development of continuously improving
  standards.
• Ensure facilities are delivering these standards.
• Regional water systems
• Report to Albertans on the quality of drinking
  water
• Establish a waterborne health surveillance system

5
Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems

• Determine the requirements of the aquatic
  ecosystem.
• Setting and meeting objectives
• Establish objectives for aquatic ecosystems, as
  part of watershed planning.
• Incorporate these objectives in approvals.
• Manage the water to achieve these objectives.
• Monitor and report on the state of the aquatic
  ecosystems to Albertans.

6
Reliable, Quality Water Supplies for a
Sustainable Economy

• Determine the value of water in Albertas
  economy.
• Prepare an inventory of all storage sites that
  have been studied in the past.
• Implement and track water allocation transfers
  within all major river basins.
• Use all the tools of the Water Act to achieve
  efficient and effective use of water.

7
Knowledge and Research

• Three key elements
• Scientific knowledge of Albertas water resources
• Understanding of emerging issues
• Education knowledge and tools to make effective
  decisions
• Establish a water research center to focus
  research on Albertas priorities
• Work with other organizations to achieve the
  greatest leverage possible

8
Partnerships for Watershed Management and
Stewardship

• Focuses on shared responsibility for watershed
  management
• Three types of partnerships that have distinct
  roles and are complementary to one another
• Framework document in development identifies
  roles and responsibilities

9
Types of Partnerships

• Provincial Water Advisory Council
• Advice on provincial water management issues
• Guide and track implementation of Water for Life
• Identify research priorities
• Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils
• Report on state of the watershed
• Develop watershed management plans
• Promote best management practices
• Watershed Stewardship Groups
• Educate Albertans on the watersheds they live in
• Undertake stewardship activities to improve and
  protectwatersheds

10
Water Conservation

• Must ensure that the water we are taking from the
  environment is being used as efficiently and
  effectively as possible.
• Actual water use must be monitored and reported
  to Albertans so that they have a better
  understanding of what water is used for and how
  it is used.
• Investigate the merits of economic instruments as
  tools to achieve water conservation.
• Work with each sector to develop plans for water
  use improvements
• understand the current use by each sector and get
  this information to Albertans and
• develop plans for improvement and share these
  plans with Albertans.

11
Water Strategy

• www.waterforlife.gov.ab.ca