Cooperation may be the answer to stormwater issues in Rocky View and other southern areas of the province, according to a non-profit society dedicated to the improvement of water management in Alberta.
Alberta WaterSMART, which uses awareness, technology and water management practices to achieve its goals, is promoting dialogue between municipalities as a way to affect government policy.
Representatives from the group presented their mandate to Rocky View County council, March 13.
ìIt is going to take a concerted effort to get government to move forward (on changing stormwater re-use policy),î said Lorne Taylor, who represented WaterSMART at the meeting.
ìIf we can bring a coalition of communities together with a common themeÖ I believe there is real opportunity for us to do something.î
According to the society, there has been a high degree of verbal interest from several municipalities in collaboration on regional flooding issues, such as those in Shepard, Langdon and Indus.
ìWhat we are hoping to be able to do is bring people together to the table to talk,î said Taylor.
Should Rocky View agree to discuss regional solutions with neighbouring municipalities, no long-term commitment would be necessary, added Taylor.
Taylor said Provincial insiders have advised the society to come up with concrete examples of creative solutions for stormwater issues.
Those solutions could include capture and re-use, something currently not done in the province, although it is becoming more common in other areas such as California and Australia.
ìWe canít depend on government to come up with solutionsÖ itís going to take a group coming in with some creative solutions,î said Taylor.
Alberta WaterSMART is implementing a collaborative model in which its programs are supported through public and private partnerships, with participation from the public and private sectors, business and industry groups and associations, watershed stewardship groups, other environmental communities of interest and dedicated individuals.
Water programs focus on sharing knowledge, facilitating technology deployment, fostering innovation and building awareness.
For more information, visit www.albertawatersmart.com
