Edmonton, Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – The Alberta government is adding new and expanded Water Act exemptions to improve water availability, improve conservation, support agricultural production, and help protect communities from drought and emergencies.
Effective immediately, farmers and ranchers can fill dugouts up to 7,500 cubic meters, triple the previous 2,500 cubic meter limit, as long as the water is used for agricultural purposes. The change is intended to help producers capture more available water and strengthen ag operations against future dry conditions.
“These changes make it easier for farmers, businesses, and communities to access and store water,” says Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “It’s good for communities, the environment, and the economy.”
R.J. Sigurdson, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, says these changes directly respond to requests from producers and rural communities. “Reliable access to water is essential for Alberta’s farmers and ranchers, especially as they manage drought risk and plan for the future.”
READ MORE: B.C. Expands Support for Farm Water Storage as Drought Threats Persist
Under the expanded exemptions, new or existing dugouts up to 7,500 cubic metres in size no longer require approval under the Water Act if used for agriculture. Stormwater ponds can now store up to 7,500 cubic metres with an outflow, or up to 15,000 cubic metres with no outflow, without needing a water licence.
Newly constructed wetlands will also be able to capture and store up to 7,500 cubic metres of surface runoff each year, an increase of 1,250 cubic metres, to support more wetland development across the province.
Other updates to the Water Act include allowing up to 100 cubic metres of water per source per day for bridge and sign washing, dust control, and fire prevention or firefighting training activities; allowing up to 1,000 cubic metres per day from borrow pits on unoccupied public land in the Green Area, provided there are no fish present and no connection to a wetland or watercourse; and increasing the exemption for temporary work camps to 2,500 cubic metres per year.
The province says the changes are part of ongoing efforts to modernize Alberta’s water management system to meet growing demand and future challenges.
