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WATER: Alberta government unveils masterplan for industrial heartland and Edmonton area
        (AlbertaIndex, December 12, Wednesday) --- The Alberta government has released a detailed plan to manage water resources for the province’s northern industrial heartland and the Edmonton area.
        The “Water Management Framework for the Industrial Heartland and Capital Region Report” aims to promote water conservation, increase the use of reclaimed or recycled water, and minimize the impact on the North Saskatchewan River.

The plan will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase in place by January 1, 2009. The framework, the result of consultation and collaboration among industry, municipalities, representatives from water and wastewater treatment facilities and the Alberta government, addresses water quantity and quality issues in the North Saskatchewan River, focusing on the area from Devon to Pakan.

Some key actions to be undertaken in the first phase include developing an implementation plan to ensure optimum use of existing water withdrawals and infrastructure; identifying and implementing key actions for maintaining river quality and assessing the feasibility of alternative approaches to water use, such as the use of recycled water.

The second phase – proposed for 2009 to 2012 – recommends the transition to a regional water supply network and emphasizes the use of recycled water. A third phase – proposed for 2012 to 2041 – focuses on longer-term sustainability for the North Saskatchewan.

As part of the plan to manage cumulative effects of development, the Industrial Heartland project also puts in place water quantity and quality targets, cumulative airshed targets for nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide – to ensure air quality is protected – and establishes guidelines to protect the region’s land. The targets, outcomes and actions apply to all major industrial users in the region.

The Industrial Heartland project will also be a key component of the Edmonton Capital Region Integrated Growth Management Plan, currently under development.

“Less than three months ago we went to the Industrial Heartland with a common sense approach to addressing cumulative effects,” said Rob Renner, Minister of Environment. “I am so pleased that our partners have come back with a concrete roadmap that outlines specific actions to achieve our overall outcomes.”


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