(Photo 6464223 Kornwa/Dreamstime.com)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

Medicine Hat signs voluntary agreement with Alberta to cut water usage by 10% in drought scenario

Apr 19, 2024 | 11:37 AM

The City of Medicine Hat has agreed to cut local water use by 10 per cent as one of the voluntary parties to a series of major water-sharing agreements revealed by the Alberta government on Friday.

The province has worked with 38 of the largest and oldest water licencees in southern Alberta to reduce water usage should severe drought conditions develop this year.

The agreements — which are not legally binding — will let more Albertans access water in a drought scenario and reduce the negative impacts on communities, the economy and the environment, government officials said.

Environment and protected areas minister Rebecca Schulz said it won’t be known whether the agreements need to be acted upon until snowpack information comes in later this month.

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There are four water-sharing agreements, one to cover each of these sub-basins: the Red Deer River, the Bow River, the mainstream of the Oldman River and the upper tributaries of the Oldman River.

Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and the County of Lethbridge have all agreed to the Oldman South Saskatchewan River Basin memorandum of understanding to save 10 per cent compared to expected 2024 summer demands.

It only comes into play if it’s activated by drought conditions determined by the province.

Medicine Hat currently in its first phase of the city’s Water Shortage Management Plan, which commits to an annualized water consumption reduction goal of 10 per cent through mandatory measures for select city departments and voluntary conservation measures for the public.

A Medicine Hat official told CHAT News in February the city was not ruling out the use of mandatory water restrictions if there was a drought scenario this year.

Schulz said the deals show Albertans are unified when it matters most.

“With these agreements, Albertans are once again coming together when times get toughest,” Schulz said.

“They will help make the most of our limited water supplies and make every drop count if a severe drought hits this summer. These irrigators, industry and municipalities are demonstrating the leadership, dedication and community spirit that makes this province great.”

The government will receive peak snowpack data in late April. Once this is in, government and water users will begin meeting regularly to assess next steps.

Medicine Hat’s director of environmental utilities Jamie Garland said the city’s taking a careful approach.

“Employing an ‘every drop counts’ mindset will help the City demonstrate our water conservation commitment,” Garland said in a statement Friday.

“Achieving a community-wide reduction in water use will help minimize the chance of having to advance to elevated phases of the Water Shortage Management Plan, which all come with mandatory water restrictions.”

‘Today is postponing action’

The agreements revealed by Alberta government Friday do not come into effect unless they are triggered.

Alberta NDP environment critic Sarah Elmeligi said the plans should start immediately.

“Today is postponing action. We’re in drought right now. Reservoirs are empty right now. These agreements should come into effect right now, not later when it might be too late,” Elmeligi said in a statement.

“The drought emergency plan was also supposed to be announced today but it has been delayed. We need to see how a wildfire emergency response plan factors into this,” she added.

“Water availability and fighting wildfires go hand-in-hand. This work is critical to keeping communities safe. Postponing this work leaves communities wondering how this will affect them if we face fires this summer.”