Water Use in Our Hydro System

Our hydro operations are part of Alberta’s North Saskatchewan and Bow River systems and are “non-consumptive” users of water resources. In other words, they divert or store water to generate electricity, later discharging it back to its natural source, with little loss of water to downstream users. Plus, by managing reservoirs to meet the needs of our hydro developments, we maintain consistent water flow through the spring and winter seasons for downstream users in Edmonton, Calgary and southern Alberta.

TransAlta appointed to water council

We believe that an ecosystem approach, combined with a collaborative process, is the best way to find a balance between human activities and watershed integrity. We support this approach by participating on various watershed planning and advisory councils in Alberta.

In 2004, TransAlta was appointed to Alberta’s Water Advisory Council, a multi-stakeholder group with representatives from government, industry and non-government organizations. The council will report on the implementation of Alberta’s water strategy, released in late 2003, and make recommendations to the government, stakeholders and the public on water issues affecting the province. Mike Kelly, TransAlta’s director, EH&S, represents our company on the 24-member committee.

During the year, we also contributed to a government-led process to develop a water management plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin, of which the Bow River is a part. Using a phased approach, the process collects input from several advisory committees and the public to find the best balance between water use and environmental protection in the basin. In 2004, our primary focus was to recommend water conservation objectives for major rivers in the system.

We are also a member of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, a grassroots umbrella organization comprising communities, industry, governments and other interest groups. The Alliance is in the early stages of creating an integrated watershed management plan for the river system. In early 2005, we joined the Alliance’s steering committee, which will provide oversight for the plan’s development.