How the public plays a role in keeping Alberta's crops watered, livestock hydrated

University of Calgary researchers say part of the solution to preserving Alberta's "water wealth" is improved public understanding of where our water comes from, and how the water system works.

A new report out of the School of Public Policy identifies that lack of understanding as a fundamental challenge to water security.

The report revisits an event hosted by the university in 2022, which was focused on sustainable water practices to ensure Alberta's agriculture sector has the water it needs as the resource becomes more scarce.

Co-author and University of Calgary Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy director Guillaume Lhermie says it's a good time to discuss the learnings from that conference. Water usage, he says, is on many people's minds — from Calgary's recent water crisis and larger conversations about water allocations.

"We set the stage for a more holistic conversation around water and how we could make sure that there is still water wealth in Western Canada, particularly in Alberta," said Lhermie.

"Water is the most important thing that is needed either to grow crops, but also to raise livestock."

He says Albertans — including the agriculture sector — will need to change practices sooner rather than later to adjust to the dwindling water supply.

But according to the report, water use regulations can lead to mistrust when the public doesn't know where water comes from and how it's used.

The researchers say better public access to data on water consumption and infrastructure could help with that.

Priorities and infrastructure

Jeff Nonay, a mixed dairy farmer in Sturgeon County, Alta., says it all comes down to continual communication between governments, the public and industry.

He pointed to Calgary as an example, which implemented water restrictions for citizens and certain businesses when a water feeder main broke more than a month ago and put the city's water supply at risk.

Those decisions also came with public education about how the system works and why it was important to make temporary sacrifices.

"[It's] building that understanding up the chain that your lawn not being green is probably not going to impact you as much as crops not getting sprayed or animals not getting water," he said.

However, he says it isn't only up to citizens. Nonay is also making changes at his farm to adapt to the changing climate — including intercropping, changing soil structure and growing small plants that produce a lot of seeds instead of big plants that require more water.

For Alberta Beef Producers director Sheila Hillmer, what's more important than the public education piece is ensuring better infrastructure is built to ensure producers across the province have access to water during drought.

"Animals, including wildlife, need water to sustain life and to sustain offspring. And without adequate water, there's a toll on livestock and cattle," she said.

"Emergency responses have to get hopefully changed out into proactive strategies where there is opportunity to hopefully have more uniform delivery of water and consistent access to drinking water for all of us."

Back at the University of Calgary, Lhermie says he would like to see industry, academics and government collaborate better to tackle the problem affecting the entire province.