Oil boom puts stress on water supply

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http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=5739fbb5-6b86-410d-b949-6dfd606c27c7&p=1

What a sad situation!!

Water is a major concern throughout Alberta. Three years of drought, along with a population boom that is stretching water supplies to the limit, prompted the provincial government to unveil a water strategy in 2003. It considers the growing demand for water by industry and people, and factors such as water pollution and drought.

Scientists David Schindler and Bill Donahue's recent research shows the amount of water flowing through the Athabasca River has declined 33 per cent since 1970, due to a combination of human and industrial activity and climate change. Other Prairie rivers have suffered similar, and sometimes much more dramatic, declines.

Their evidence underscores the importance of achieving the government's goal of improving the efficiency of water use by 30 per cent by 2015.

Alberta Environment Minister Guy Boutilier expects all sectors in the province to achieve this reduction. But there is a focus on the oilsands sector because it is the fastest-growing industry.