MD of Pincher Creek spent nearly $1M to haul water during last year's drought
The Municipal District of Pincher Creek spent close to $1 million last year to haul water as a result of low levels in the Oldman Reservoir amid drought conditions in the province.
“It's pretty big for a small municipality like us to absorb that exorbitant cost,” David Desabrais, utilities and infrastructure manager for the rural municipality, said Monday.
The municipality had budgeted $313,000 in its 2023 water services budget, Desabrais added.
On Aug. 16, 2023, the district started hauling water downstream of the Oldman Reservoir.
“We were also hauling potable water via trucks from the town of Pincher Creek; private contractors, primarily,” said Desabrais.
“We were doing that until about mid-december 2023, when we were finally able to get a pumping setup down into the reservoir. We're still hauling potable water from the town (of Pincher Creek) to supplement that setup, but that setup is our primary water source right now.”
With that setup, water is being pulled from the Crowsnest River, which flows by the municipality's intakes.
Between 300 and 400 users — including residents and businesses — have been affected by the situation, he said. The Village of Cowley, the hamlets of Lundbreck and Beaver Mines within the MD, Castle Mountain Resort, Castle Provincial Park and a few rural users have all been affected.
With the pumping setup, the municipality is able to meet roughly two-thirds of its water demand, said Desabrais.
“It's cutting our costs in half,” he said.
Desabrais also refuted a claim made by a group of Crowsnest residents last week that the Crowsnest River had dried up.
“It is flowing by our intakes. It freezes over, but breaking the ice allows access to river flows,” he said.
A hydrogeology study confirmed the municipality could potentially tap into the aquifer connected to the Crowsnest River, he said.
“If we can get the infiltration structures in this year, I think that should meet our current demands,” said Desabrais.
To help in case of more severe shortages, the addition of proposed raw water storage in the rural municipality would be “a bonus,” he said.
The MD of Pincher Creek is concerned about the amount of moisture from this year's snowpack, said Desabrais.
“The reality is that we kind of see it first because we're upstream of all the storage,” said Desabrais. “Some of the communities downstream, like the Lethbridges and Medicine Hats, they saw a little bit of it last year, but if this snowpack continues the way it is, they're going to be in similar situations as us. It's pretty serious and it's important to highlight.”
Ryan Fournier, press secretary to Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz, said last week the ministry is working closely with the Municipal District of Pincher Creek.
“We have been in close contact with them for several months to support where we can, including helping set up a temporary pump system that launched in December,” said Fournier.
Alberta is at risk of worsening drought this year, and the province is working with communities and other partners to prepare, said Fournier.
“The largest water-sharing discussions in Alberta's history are now underway, modelling is being developed and we are finalizing an emergency response plan,” he said.
“When it comes to water, we are all in it together. We encourage all Albertans to make smart daily choices to help conserve water for neighbours and those downstream.”