Alberta Water Act survey responses
Respond by June 30 if you want to influence changes to water licence allocations
The Alberta government is seeking public input regarding proposed changes to water licensing.
Crowsnest Headwaters is sharing its recommended responses below. You may of course choose your own responses.
Water Survey Suggested Responses
1.1 Point of Use Do not support
1.2 Point of diversion Do not support
1.3 Director-initiated amendments Do not support
1.4. Notice to appropriate parties Support
1.5 Time limits Support
1.6 Limit supplemental information Do not support
1.7 New and expanded exemptions Support
2.1.1 Authority for introducing new measurement Support
2.1.2 Applying measurement Support
2.1.3 Standardizing measurement Support
2.1.4 Amalgamation of licences Support
2.2 Defining licences Support
2.3.1 Collecting information Support
2.3.2 Publishing information Support
3.1 Establish criteria Support
3.2 Introduce an alternative Support
3.3 Adjusting definitions Support
4.1 Wastewater reuse Support
4.2 Rainwater use Support
4.3 Stormwater use Do not support
4.4 Return flow Support
Additional feedback
The Water Act should be amended to require licencing for any activity that would reduce or affect the quality of natural runoff water in a watershed. For example, a water licence should be required for the amount of runoff reduction calculated for resource extraction, including tree harvesting, oil and gas production and mining. The runoff calculation should cover the time period required before the area in question has recovered to its full water production capacity.
Disturbance to a watershed means a direct impact on the quantity and quality of water available to downstream licencees. Watershed disturbance must require a water licence, as for any other surface water consumption.
Done! Thanks for the help.