This post is for you Rob Schwartz.
2023: Rest well Rob Schwartz. We’ll miss you dearly.
2007, Ottawa: Rob Schwartz on his way to present to a parliamentary committee on known harms to Alberta water by frac’ers.
A proportion (25% to 100%) of the water used in hydraulic fracturing is not recovered, and consequently this water is lost permanently to re-use, which differs from some other water uses in which water can be recovered and processed for re-use.
Central Alberta water commission suspends use of its water for fracking, With possible water shortage looming, MVRWSC tells Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Crossfield to ensure water is used for domestic, municipal purposes by Dan Singleton, Jan 18, 2024, Cochrane Eagle
The Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission (MVRWSC) says the treated bulk water it produces should not be used for oil and gas field operations.
At a recent special commission meeting, board members passed a motion advising member communities that “water provided by the commission is to be used for domestic and municipal use. The commission immediately suspends any use of water for oil and gas field operations.”
One oilfield operation, called fracking, involves the injection of water down well bore holes to enhance production.
The MVRWSC owns and operates the Anthony Henday Water Treatment Plant northwest of Innisfail. It provides potable water to member municipalities Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Crossfield.
The commission motion was moved by Didsbury town councillor Bill Windsor, the Town of Didsbury’s representative on the commission. He discussed the matter further at a recent Didsbury council meeting.
“There are two reasons behind that (the commission motion),” said Windsor. “The first reason behind that is water licence out of the Red Deer River requires our water to be used for domestic purposes only, and so using it for oilfield purposes would jeopardize our licence.
Slide from Ernst presentations
“And the second reason is a philosophical thing, why are we using treated water for things like fracking and things like that, like oilfield operations?
Industry doesn’t like to use dirty water for frac’ing, SAGD or oil recovery, because surface bacteria will contaminate and sour formations, turn sweet gas and oil deadly as has happened to many frac’d formations globally:
“I would like to ratify that at the council level, that we too agree with that philosophical idea that the water that we purchase from the water commission, that is treated at the Anthony Henday (Water Treatment) Plant that it is not used for oilfield operations.”
Coun. John Baswick weighed in saying, “The water we receive is a commodity and once it reaches our door we are able to do with as we wish, whether we are selling it to oilfield or selling it to farmers.
“To me (the commission motion) borders on a restriction of commerce and you can’t do that, so I would reject that option, from the commission or otherwise.”
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said, “We are being asked not to sell water to oil and gas from commission directive. Were you aware of that?”
Baswick replied, “No and that’s unreasonable to me.”
Taking water from the Bow River to hoard for frac’ing
Following the discussion, Didsbury council passed a motion that “administration return information related to the sale of treated bulk water for oilfield use to a regular council meeting in February 2024.”
Commission chairman says action needed
Town of Carstairs Mayor Lance Colby is the MVRWSC chairman.
“The request is that none of the towns supply water for fracking,” Colby told the Albertan. “The big concern right now is with the possible water shortage (in the province). We want to make sure that all of the municipalities are ensuring that water is going for domestic and municipal purposes.
“We are going to have to, as municipalities, cut back on water so we don’t want water going out if it doesn’t have to. We are making sure the bulk water is going to the proper use.
In Canada too!
“They’ve (oil and gas companies) been taking water and I don’t know whether they are using it for fracking or what they are doing, but if they were, the request was that none the towns would supply water for fracking. They can apply for their own special water licence.”
Asked if commission is instructing municipalities not to sell water to oil and gas companies for use in fracking, he said yes.
Some – too many – municipalities/towns in Alberta give the water away to frac’ers without keeping track. Below are Encana frac’ers taking water in Wheatland Co in 2005, for free.
Rebecca Shultz, minister of Environment and Protected Area, recently sent a letter to municipalities across the region. She said “municipal leaders throughout Alberta will need to take action” to ensure water is used wisely at a time when the province is facing drought conditions.
“We are asking all water users to start planning now to use less water in 2024,” said Shultz. “I know we can count on our municipal partners to work together in the face of adversity.”
***
Taking water to hoard for frac’ing
Hoarding water for frac’ing NW of Calgary
What Wetaskiwin farmer Dale Zimmerman gets for water after frac’ers Quicksilver (prev. MGV – Mike Gatens Ventures) contaminated his well with methane and ethane.
What frac’ed ranchers, Ronalie and Shawn Campbell get for water. Yes, that black gunk is their drinking water, being tested, after frac operations on their ranch.
What I get for water after Encana/Ovintiv illegally frac’d directly into my community’s drinking water aquifers, repeatedly, injecting 18 million litres frac fluid into them, enabled by Alberta politicians, AER, Alberta Environment, Wheatland Co, and Alberta Research Council (now Alberta Innovates)
Hauling water in Alberta in winter is pure frozen hell, as frozen and hellish as Canada’s judicial industry (aka justice system).
Crossfield will continue selling effluent for fracking purposes, This change does not have a direct effect on Crossfield’s business, as the restrictions are only related to the use of potable water for oil and gas field operations by Masha Scheele with files from Dan Singleton/ Great West Media, Jan 18, 2024, Airdrie City View
A recent decision to ban the municipal sale of water for oil and gas fracking operations in the lower Red Deer River will not affect the Town of Crossfield’s lucrative side business.
The Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission (MVRWSC) passed a motion at a recent special commission meeting, advising member communities, including Crossfield, that “water provided by the commission is to be used for domestic and municipal use. The commission immediately suspends any use of water for oil and gas field operations.”
Crossfield Mayor Kim Harris said the Town sells access to its wastewater as an alternative financial resource, but not fresh water.It makes no difference what kind of water frac’ers inject – waste water, river water or treated drinking water. Dirty or clean, frac’ers remove much of it permanently from the hydrogeological cycle. As Alberta is frac’d dry, residents are being ordered to restrict their water use, firefighters will struggle to find water and frac’ers will keep frac’ing the dregs away until there is none.
“This change (at the Commission) does not have a direct effect on Crossfield’s business, as the restrictions are only related to the use of potable water for oil and gas field operations,” Harris said in an email to Rocky View Weekly on Jan. 18. “The Town continues to engage with oil and gas companies on the sale of our effluent for fracking purposes.”
The oilfield operation called fracking involves the injection of water down well bore holes to enhance production, an operation for which the provincial government does not want companies to use fresh water.
Harris went on to say that the motion by MVRWSC is intended to support the proactive management of water supply.
“This strategy helps the region to collectively and proactively manage the supply of a critical resource (in this case water) that we anticipate will be in low supply throughout 2024, due to low precipitation levels,” she wrote in an email.
“We will continue to sell our effluent to oil and gas companies and welcome the opportunity to optimize the use of our effluent in a meaningful way that supports the responsible use of our water resources, while also serving as a revenue source for the Town.”Is it meaningful to permanently remove water from human use? It’s insanity and greed to allow frac’ers to inject any water, from any source, at the best of times, never mind during a severe drought and the climate crisis.
As it relates to the drought conditions ahead in 2024, the Province of Alberta defined five stages for managing water shortage, with one being classified as water availability being a concern and stage five being an emergency under the Water Act. Harris said Alberta is currently in stage four and the situation is being closely monitored.
She added the Town of Crossfield will be advancing plans over the coming weeks to ensure Crossfield is prepared to respond if water availability decreases and to support the proactive management of water supply.To do that, frac’ing must be criminalized.
“The Town of Crossfield is committed to ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for our community and are active partners with the [MVRWSC] in ensuring we take responsible actions today that support us in this regard in the future,” she said.
The MVRWSC owns and operates the Anthony Henday Water Treatment Plant northwest of Innisfail. It provides potable water to member municipalities Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Crossfield.
MVRWSC members say action is needed
The commission motion was moved by Didsbury town councillor Bill Windsor, the Town of Didsbury’s representative on the commission. He discussed the matter further at a recent Didsbury council meeting.
“There are two reasons behind that (the commission motion),” said Windsor. “The first reason behind that is water licence out of the Red Deer River requires our water to be used for domestic purposes only, and so using it for oilfield purposes would jeopardize our licence.
“And the second reason is a philosophical thing, why are we using treated water for things like fracking and things like that, like oilfield operations?
“I would like to ratify that at the council level, that we too agree with that philosophical idea that the water that we purchase from the water commission, that is treated at the Anthony Henday (Water Treatment) Plant that it is not used for oilfield operations.”
Another council member felt this directive was unreasonable as the water is a commodity that municipalities should be able to use however they wish.
When MVRWSC chairman and Town of Carstairs mayor, Lance Colby, was asked if the commission is instructing municipalities not to sell water to oil and gas companies for use in fracking, he said, ‘yes.’
“The request is that none of the (member) towns supply water for fracking,” Colby told Great West Media. “The big concern right now is with the possible water shortage (in the province). We want to make sure that all of the municipalities are ensuring that water is going for domestic and municipal purposes.”
Rebecca Shultz, minister of Environment and Protected Area, recently sent a letter to municipalities across the region. She said “municipal leaders throughout Alberta will need to take action” to ensure water is used wisely at a time when the province is facing drought conditions.
“We are asking all water users to start planning now to use less water in 2024,” said Shultz. “I know we can count on our municipal partners to work together in the face of adversity.”
Refer also to:
Frac’d to hell Alberta dries up. Fast.
Frac water lines, photos by Will Koop, BC Tap Water Alliance:
2013: Harper government cutting more than $100 million and about 500 jobs related to protection of water
A proportion (25% to 100%) of the water used in hydraulic fracturing is not recovered, and consequently this water is lost permanently to re-use, which differs from some other water uses in which water can be recovered and processed for re-use.
2006:
Encana lied, as frac’ers do. The company is not supplying water to those harmed (and concerned) by it’s legal or illegal frac operations.
2006: My water after Encana illegally frac’d the aquifer that supplies my well and community
Photo by Colin Smith