Alberta Water for Life Strategy

Adopted in 2003, the Alberta Water for Life Strategy was developed to respond to increasing demands and pressures on the province's water supplies and aquatic ecosystems.

The Strategy has three stated outcomes:

• Safe and secure drinking water;
• A reliable water supply;
• Healthy aquatic ecosystems.

The Strategy acknowledges that in the past Alberta has been able to manage its water supply while maintaining a healthy aquatic environment because there has been a relatively abundant, clean supply of water to meet all needs. But "fluctuating and unpredictable water supply in recent years" suggests a need to change how the province approaches this critical resource.

The Strategy Under Review

In 2007, the strategy underwent a review by the Alberta Water Council with input from the public. In early 2007, Premier Ed Stelmach asked Environment Minister Rob Renner to undergo a "renewal and resourcing" of the Water for Life Strategy. This prompted a full review of the strategy — its successes and challenges.

A coalition of citizen-based organizations came together and submitted a report to the Alberta Water Council outlining its analysis and review of the strategy. Issues addressed in this report include: funding, protection of drinking water sources, progress made on protecting healthy aquatic ecosystems, watershed planning, shared governance, and water conservation.

» Read the coalition's analysis and review of Water for Life

Bow Riverkeeper's Involvement in Water for Life

We are focused on helping to lay a strong foundation for addressing key issues such as source water protection, water conservation, and the protection of aquatic ecosystems. The Strategy will be successful only if the environmental community can be effective at shaping its implementation. The non-governmental community, acting as "watershed advocate," will bring a needed voice for environmental protection to the multi-stakeholder process.