Alberta’s environment minister has made his preference over a long-term water source for Okotoks quite clear.
Alberta Environment is expected to make a decision soon regarding the Town’s application for two water licence transfers as well as the Town’s request for return flow credits.
However, during an exchange between himself and Highwood MLA George Groeneveld in the provincial legislature earlier this month Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner said Okotoks should ultimately look at a water pipeline from Calgary.
“I believe very strongly in the concept of a regional water system, and that regional water system is already under way in the Calgary region,” he said. “I would encourage the town and I would encourage the Calgary Regional Partnership to proceed with a regional water delivery system.”
Renner was at an international climate conference in Cancun, Mexico last week and unavailable for an interview regarding his comments.
He said water licence transfers are only a short-term solution to the Town’s water problems and don’t provide long-term relief.
Renner was responding to questions from Groeneveld about the status of two water licence transfer applications. As part of its application, Okotoks has also asked for return flow credits. The Town returns 80 per cent of the water it treats back into the Sheep River and has long argued it should receive credit for this practice.
Calling it “problematic,” Renner said the Town’s request for return flow credits isn’t simple.
“While it’s true that municipalities return water, it’s in an inconsistent way, and it doesn’t necessarily meet the needs of the river system,” he said.
Okotoks Coun. Matt Rockley said the minister’s comments make it pretty clear where the Province stands.
“It is quite clear that the direction from Minister Renner is, long-term, exactly what he says,” said Rockley.
Rockley said Okotoks needs to look at all options, including a pipeline to Calgary. He added the Town has a variety of long-term options it could look at, such as a reservoir or aquifer storage as well as a pipeline from Calgary.
The question is which one is most cost effective.
“What needs to be looked at is the difference in cost between the different options and how the different options work within the water licensing system,” he said.
He said the Town needs a short-term water solution to get it through the next few construction seasons and water licence transfers fit the bill.
“That is the solution that will get us through the next few construction seasons,” he said. “That will allow us some time to work with the Province and our neighbours on something long-term for our community.”
Coun. Laurie Hodson was watching question period on TV when he heard the discussion between Groeneveld and Renner. He said he would like the Town to meet with the minister to clarify his comments.
He said he worries the minister’s comments show Okotoks will be pressured to accept a water pipeline as a long-term solution.
“(Renner) responded to the fact that over the longer haul, in his view, the Town of Okotoks will be part and parcel to a regional pipeline,” said Hodson.
He said return flow credits would give Okotoks some room to grow.
Hodson said the Town is only asking for enough water to meet the needs for existing projects developers have planned, not for unlimited growth.
“From my personal perspective, the Town’s short-term requirements should be put into perspective,” he said. “We’re not asking for a licence for uncontrolled growth.”
He said the Town may have to slow development if additional water can’t be secured to get Okotoks to a 30,000 population. He doesn’t want to see this occur.
Okotoks municipal manager Rick Quail said the Town is essentially asking for recognition of the fact it returns much of the water it uses back into the Sheep River. One licence was acquired from Legacy Oil and Gas and he said water used by the company under the licence was not returned back into the river, whereas the Town would return much of what it will use.
“What we asked for was recognition that Okotoks returns in excess of 80 per cent of all the water we withdraw,” he said.
As well, Quail argued the Town’s acquisition of the licence from Legacy Oil and Gas improves the condition of the Sheep River.
“In the case of this licence, we’re talking about preserving that water for 32km in the Sheep River, that water has historically been drawn from the river upstream of Turner Valley,” he said. “We have kept that 195 acre feet of water in the Sheep River forever between upstream of Turner Valley and Okotoks. Then we are returning it.”
Quail said allowing return flow credits can be an incentive to municipalities to upgrade their water systems and improve water conservation. It would also encourage the development of a licence transfer market, he said.
Alberta Environment spokesperson Cara Tobin said a decision is expected on the Town’s request before the end of the year.
She said the minister can say what he thinks Okotoks should do in the long-term, but he doesn’t have the final say on the Town’s licence application.
“It’s fine for him to say it, but he doesn’t make those decisions, the department does,” said Tobin.
Tobin said the Town’s request for return flow credits is the first of its kind the department has received and it has had to get legal advice on the matter before making its decision. She said the ministry needs to carefully consider the impact return flow credits would have on the river.
“We have to look at the effect it’s going to have on the environment and the aquatic ecosystem,” she said.
