Alberta’s government has initiated a long-term water security initiative aimed at protecting water supplies for the province’s expanding population, agriculture, and industrial sectors over the next century.
The province issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to draft a white paper analyzing Alberta’s long-term water needs. The study will explore opportunities to increase water availability, enhance infrastructure, improve groundwater usage, and introduce policy tools to upgrade water management and conveyance across the province.
“Water is the foundation of Alberta’s future,” said Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “We’re looking 100 years ahead and asking what Alberta needs to build, invest in and do differently today to secure our water supply for generations to come.”
The white paper will also evaluate potential funding models and public-private partnerships for major infrastructure projects. Officials emphasized that proposals identified in the report will not automatically proceed and must first undergo detailed technical assessments.
“As Alberta continues to grow, we need to take a long-term view of how we secure reliable water supplies,” added Tara Sawyer, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, highlighting planned discussions with local governments, industry partners, and Indigenous communities.
Alongside the long-term study, the province is rolling out two advanced hydrological modeling projects scheduled for completion by March 2027:
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South Saskatchewan River Basin: Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. is building a watershed-scale demand forecasting model covering municipal, industrial, livestock, and irrigation usage.
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Peace and Athabasca River Basins: Aquanty Inc. is deploying HydroGeoSphere models to provide near-real-time, short-term, and seasonal hydrological forecasting across northern Alberta.
“Alberta is growing, and we need to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace,” noted Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.
Combined, the 100-year plan and technical forecasting tools aim to strengthen drought responses, guide future infrastructure investments, and safeguard the province’s economic growth well into the 22nd century.