How Should Alberta Manage Water for Growing Demand?

Official title: Water availability engagement

Closed Legislation Agriculture & Food Environment & Climate Natural Resources
Alberta asked residents how to improve water availability as the province grows. The two-phase engagement gathered ideas on updating the Water Act. Feedback shaped Bill 7, which aims to streamline permits, allow rainwater collection, and make it easier to move water between river basins.

Why This Matters

Water touches everything in Alberta—your tap, your farm, your job. Population growth and climate variability are straining the system. This engagement shaped new rules that could affect how you collect rainwater, how businesses access water, and whether water can be moved to drought-hit areas.

What Could Change

Bill 7 would let the Minister approve lower-risk water transfers between river basins without full regulatory review. Rainwater collection and wastewater reuse would become easier to permit. Water monitoring requirements would increase, giving the public more transparency on who's using how much.

Key Issues

  • Should lower-risk inter-basin water transfers be approved by the Minister alone?
  • How can Alberta support rainwater collection and wastewater reuse?
  • What regulatory requirements should be streamlined for water permits?
  • How should water monitoring and transparency be improved?

How to Participate

  1. Review the Discussion Document on Enhancing Water Availability to understand the proposed Water Act amendments.
  2. Read the ideas board submissions from Phase 1 to see what other Albertans suggested.
  3. Learn how feedback shaped Bill 7: Water Amendment Act.

What Happened

Feedback from both phases informed Bill 7: Water Amendment Act. The legislation aims to streamline regulatory requirements, improve water monitoring and transparency, allow lower-risk inter-basin transfers to be approved by the Minister, and support alternative water sources including rainwater and wastewater reuse.

View Final Decision

Key Documents