Irrigation and Water Management in Calgary

Irrigation and water management in Calgary is a complicated and sometimes difficult process. The city has several different water supply systems, but there is one type of system that is the most effective for the city: a stormwater management system. There are several types of irrigation systems, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In the city of Calgary, the two most common types of systems are the piped and sprinkler systems. The piped system is the best solution because it allows for efficient and effective use of water.

In 2014, Calgary's housing development sector accounted for $10.8 billion in GDP. The city's housing developers must access water through a licensed water allocation. To do so, a developer must find a landowner willing to license the water for new housing. After that, a developer must go through a rigorous environmental review process, which can take up to three years.

The Western Irrigation District is a partner in this initiative. The District and the City of Calgary are both partners in the project. The City's stormwater management system includes a new collaboration between farmers and cities. The goal of the cooperative is to reduce flooding in localized areas and move stormwater more efficiently. Besides reducing localized flooding, CSMI also helps preserve high quality irrigation water for the City of Calgary.

The Western Irrigation District was the first to take advantage of the CSMI project. The City of Calgary, Rocky View County, and the Town of Strathmore are all partners in the project. A collaborative governance structure and a new cooperative corporation were established in November 2020. Using recycled water for toilet flushing in the Energy Environment and Experiential Learning Building and the MacKimmie Tower, the City has taken proactive steps to conserve water.

The Western Irrigation District is a partnership between 18 municipalities in the city of Calgary and rural areas. This partnership was formed in 2005 and involved the development of a land and water management framework for the city. This partnership was necessary because the city of Calgary had an excess of water licence capacity. Through this arrangement, the city shared water with other rural communities in need. In 2009, four of these rural municipalities left the program. This may have contributed to the water challenges in Rocky View, but the town of Okotoks remained in the program and is now facing a $30 million pipeline.

The Bow River is the largest river in Alberta and is used for irrigation, power generation, and recreational purposes. In 1869, the city of Calgary had an excess water licence and shared it with the rural communities in need. This arrangement has changed significantly over the years and the Calgary Region has a much larger surplus than it did in the past. In the city of Calgary, this partnership also involves a pipeline to Okotoks and the surrounding rural municipalities.

The Western Irrigation District has been a pioneer in the city's water efficiency efforts. In 2016, the Western Irrigation District purchased enough water licences for three times its current population. The region has since been undergoing a drought. Its residents have had to choose between a traditional landscape that needs irrigation and an irrigation system that uses the water for recreational use.

The University of Calgary has a comprehensive water management plan in place. The project involves the University of Calgary, Rocky View County, and the Town of Strathmore. It also has a unified governance structure. As the project is completed, it is expected to save the city millions of dollars in local property taxes. The city has implemented policies to improve its water efficiency and reduce its dependence on bottled water.

In the year 2005, the Calgary Regional Partnership was formed. It consisted of 18 municipalities that developed a land and water management framework. The cities were responsible for sharing their excess water licences with the rural communities in need. In 2009, four of the rural municipalities left the partnership. The Calgary area lost the water supply in Rocky View, and the province has to build a pipeline to meet the demands of this community. The cost for this will be approximately $30 million.