Alberta's Industrial Heartland Process Water Feasibility Study

Strathcona County, in partnership with Sturgeon County, will undertake a study to assess the feasibility of providing a consolidated process water system in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland in order to minimize the current number of private water intakes and treatment facilities. The study will be considering an ultimate "closed-loop" system option that would incorporate an Eco-Industrial Area philosophy and promote responsible water management to assist the Heartland to meet industrial servicing needs where limited water resources exist. If deemed feasible and implemented, Strathcona County and Sturgeon County could become the process water service provider for Alberta's Industrial Heartland by forming a utility that would recover investment costs through industrial capital contributions and user rates. This collaborative initiative may become a future process water service model for other industrial areas within Canada and perhaps North America. At the conservative end of the scale, the proposed closed loop system could reduce fresh water consumption by 80 ML per day. Having one utility to deliver process water to all industry in the Heartland would create efficiencies, reduce the area’s overall environmental footprint and lead to improved wastershed management (consistent with Alberta Environment's Water for Life Strategy) by protecting and preserving the health of the North Saskatchewan River Basin’s aquatic ecosystem.