Oil Sands, Agriculture Depleting Alberta's Water Supply

"Canada's Prairies will face an unprecedented water crisis in coming years due to declining river flows and growing water usage — especially in processing Alberta's vast oil sands, says a new study [by] Alberta researchers David Schindler and W.F. Donahue.

The study says that Alberta is the most vulnerable to water shortages because of population growth, extensive use of irrigation and the rapid growth of the oil industry. Currently the oil sands consume three to six barrels of water per barrel of oil produced.

Alberta also accounts for almost three-quarters of Canada's irrigation agriculture, and for intensive livestock operations with 6.4 million cattle and 1.8 million hogs.

'We really need comprehensive watershed planning but when I see how fast development and the loss of water flows are proceeding, I really wonder if we're going to get there on time' [said Mr. Schindler]."