As the members of Alberta's 70 agricultural services boards meet in Edmonton this week for their annual convention, the boards' provincial committee has said it accepts the Redford governments' response to a 2012 resolution calling for a reduction in the use of fresh water in fracking operations.
Agricultural services boards, including the ones in Mountain View and Red Deer Counties, advise local councils and the provincial government on agriculture-related issues and concerns.
During last year's agriculture services board convention, members passed a resolution calling on the provincial government to "implement an immediate reduction scheduled on the use of fresh water to the oil and gas industry for the hydro fracturing and water injection process, in all areas of Alberta where fresh water is required for human consumption.î
Fracking is an oil and gas recovery process that uses high pressure water and other fluids to break up rock formations.
In response, Alberta Environment told the boards that the provincial ëWater Conservation and Allocation Policy for Oilfield Injection' is being reviewed to address water use in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing.
"The review will provide the context for better water management planning to minimize, if not eliminate, the use of fresh water for oil field injection,î Alberta Environment said. "The review of existing regulatory framework for unconventional oil and gas will allow for stronger water management planning.î
During last week's Mountain View agricultural service board meeting, members were given a follow up report on the fresh water resolution. That report states that provincial ASR committee has reviewed the government reply and is "satisfied with the responseî.
The committee called on the agricultural service boards to continue working with Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties to push for reduction in the use of fresh water in fracking operations.
