Eco-Fact: "Less than 3% of treated municipal water is used for drinking purposes."
- Environment Canada- |
Ecotrust Partners | Calvin Duane | Alberta Native Plant Council | Peter Sherrington | Alberta Wilderness Association | Terry Forkheim | Anadarko Canada Corporation | Stew Henderson | ATCO Group |
 | Are you interested in water issues?
If so, you’ll definitely want to attend the Banff Mountain Summit 2003 - Mountains as Water Towers conference at
The Banff Centre,
November 23-26, 2003.
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Thanks to the generosity of the Community Animation Program, subsidies will be available to members of the grassroots community in Alberta to attend this conference. For more information on the subsidy program visit the Alberta Ecotrust website. The deadline for application for subsidies is September 19, 2003.
Join us for some food, fun and networking prior to this conference. The Alberta Ecotrust Foundation and Community Animation Program would like to invite non-profit conference attendees from Alberta to attend the Communities as Water Stewards Ice Breaker - Sunday November 23, 5:30 p.m.
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Alberta's New Water for Life Strategy
by Alicia Barron-Backman
The Government has launched a comprehensive initiative that it hopes will culminate in actions and strategies for effective management of Alberta's water resources now and into the future. The initiative will address pressing water issues such as how Alberta will deal with increased water demand, allocate water supply, ensure water quality, and continue to regulate and prevent water pollution. Click here to read more... |
Fall Proposal Deadline A reminder that project proposals will be accepted for review up until the end of the business day on September 30. We provide matching grants from $2000 - $20 000 for community-based environmental projects. See our website or call Jill Kirker (403.209.2245) for application guidelines |
Conservation Tip: In many countries the water is of excellent quality and hence there is no need for drinking bottled water. Drink the water from the tap and save our environment from plastic bottles. If you do buy bottled water, reuse the bottles or buy bigger bottles.
-from WaterYear 2003- |
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 Reflections on the Importance of Water
by Lisa Wise Were you in search of water this summer to help you cool down, relax or add splash to your vacation? In Alberta, we have often taken the "abundance" of our lakes, rivers and streams for granted - whether for recreation, industry or personal use. However, for millions of people in the world, access to potable water and the daily risk of water-borne diseases are constant and lifelong challenges. In this land of plenty, we are fortunate to have instant, continuous access to water and rely on safe source water or state-of-the-art treatment systems without much thought. Yet we are hearing more and more that our own water supplies are at risk. Alberta Ecotrust is pleased to have supported several community initiatives that encourage more conservation and stewardship approaches to water use. 2003 is The International Year of Freshwater. This year is significant to all of us, from those who are suffering with tainted, polluted water to others who have plenty and habitually waste it. The purpose of the Year of Freshwater is to highlight the essential need for water and to promote sustainable use. Click here to find out more...
You may be surprised by the amount of water you use in everyday activities. The following chart displays the average volumes of water used in North American homes: 
from Environment Canada (July 2003)
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Featuring Water... At Alberta Ecotrust we receive a wide variety of proposals, from groups seeking funding to preserve habitat to those who wish to find climate change solutions in their communities. In recent times we have seen more and more proposals that address water-related issues. This reflects the growing awareness among community groups and Albertans in general that water is a resource we can no longer take for granted. Over the last few years we have supported diverse projects that all bring a unique perspective and approach to bear on the common goal of protecting our water resources. Click on the links below to view summaries of the projects and to find links to the websites of the groups featured (summaries will open in a new window). |
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Water Resources on the Web compiled by Margaret Chandler
Find out more! Here is a sample of some of the many excellent resources
available on the Internet. These sites have passed the Ecotrust test,
meaning that we refer to them frequently! |
Alberta Environment
Many links to information on a wide range of provincial water issues.
| City of Calgary Waterworks Department
This page is an excellent resource for indoor and outdoor water saving tips, water treatment information and water-related teacher resources, among other things. | Cows and Fish
The mission of this program is to promote the improvement of riparian areas and their ecological processes and functions. This is accomplished through a collaborative partnership and a voluntary, proactive community-based action approach that promotes education and awareness about management options for livestock producers and their communities. | Ducks Unlimited Canada (DU)
DU conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl and has developed three educational units in the wetland ecosystems series. | Edmonton Rain Barrel Project
This project, started in 2002 in Edmonton, promotes rainwater harvesting and the associated benefits of storing rainwater. It also has water conservation tips and water-related links. | Environment Canada's Freshwater website
This excellent website provides a wide variety of information from the scientific to the political to the practical. Check it out for a description of water policies, water and culture, management of water quality and pollution, efficiency and conservation, as well as a comprehensive collection of further resources including fact sheets, directories and list-serves.
Let's Not Take Water For Granted – A Resource Guide
Nine fact sheets on fresh water | The Parks Foundation
The foundation is active in many projects and has an excellent online brochure about Calgary's wetlands. | Watersheds of Alberta
A forum for community watershed groups to help Alberta communities be well informed, integrated and effectively participate in watershed stewardship partnerships. |
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