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Stormwater management engagement

Stakeholders shared feedback to help inform proposed amendments that would allow increased stormwater use.

Overview

We gathered feedback from stakeholders on proposed amendments to the Water (Ministerial) Regulation that will exempt low-risk stormwater use from requiring a Water Act licence.

We’ve heard from Albertans that the current regulation requirements for stormwater use can be an inefficient and expensive process, which can prevent stormwater projects from moving forward despite clear environmental, social and economic benefits.

Stakeholder feedback helped inform proposed regulation amendments that address:

  • specific volumes of stormwater that should be exempt from requiring a Water Act licence
  • specific uses of stormwater that should be exempt from requiring a Water Act licence
  • whether regions facing water scarcity should have different stormwater licensing exemptions

Timeline

  • Open

    March to May 2022

  • Results under review

  • Completed

    April 2023

Who is listening

Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas

Input received

Stakeholder engagement

Between March and May 2022, stakeholders participated in virtual discussions to help inform proposed amendments to the Water (Ministerial) Regulation to exempt low-risk stormwater use from requiring a Water Act licence.

Outcomes

Stakeholder feedback informed amendments to the Water (Ministerial) Regulation. Now, under specified conditions, stormwater diversions of up to 6,250 cubic metres per year are exempt from requiring a Water Act licence. This will make it easier for Albertans to access and use stormwater instead of higher quality water sources.

See Water legislation and guidelines for more information.