Alberta is testing water technology as drought approaches

Alberta is spending millions of dollars on technology projects to help conserve, monitor and manage water as the province faces extreme drought conditions this spring and summer.

The provincial government has committed more than $75 million to support more than 100 projects through the Water Innovation Program, including water recycling technology tested at Calgary water treatment plants.

“These innovative projects are part of our work to modernize and transform water in this province by finding new and better ways to manage, conserve and use our most precious resource,” said Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schultz.

A project developed at the University of Alberta is being tested first in Calgary to determine how well it can reuse and recycle water.

A program using a “granular sludge reactor” works at water treatment plants in Calgary to increase water throughput.

Calgary recorded more than 35 centimeters of snow last Tuesday through Saturday, in one event surpassing March's average monthly snowfall.

Environment and Climate Change Canada data shows Calgary has received about 62 centimeters of snow this month.

Despite the recent snowfall, the City of Calgary says it is preparing for the possibility of water restrictions in May if dry conditions persist.

“Conditions have improved somewhat since mid-winter, but the Calgary region remains in a drought,” said the city's latest drought update released last week.

The city already plans to conserve water through the spring by limiting its use for cleaning cars and watering parks. City crews reuse stormwater for golf courses, parks and city flower baskets.