Athabasca River Basin Alberta Environment Current and Future Water Use in Alberta March 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 11.0 ATHABASCA RIVER BASIN ....................................................................................... 423 11.1 MUNICIPAL AND RESIDENTIAL SECTOR......................................................423 11.1.1 Population..............................................................................................423 11.1.2 Water Allocations...................................................................................424 11.1.3 Licensed Water Use ..............................................................................433 11.1.4 Actual Water Use...................................................................................434 11.1.5 Future Water Use Forecasts..................................................................434 11.2 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR...............................................................................437 11.2.1 Overview of Agriculture in the Athabasca Basin....................................438 11.2.2 Stockwatering ........................................................................................439 11.2.3 Irrigation.................................................................................................444 11.2.4 Summary ...............................................................................................447 11.3 COMMERCIAL SECTOR ..................................................................................448 11.3.1 Water Allocations...................................................................................448 11.3.2 Licensed Water Use ..............................................................................449 11.3.3 Actual Water Use...................................................................................449 11.3.4 Forecasts of Future Water Use..............................................................449 11.4 PETROLEUM SECTOR ....................................................................................454 11.4.1 Oilsands Mining .....................................................................................456 11.4.2 Thermal Recovery .................................................................................459 11.4.3 Gas/ Petrochemical Plants ....................................................................461 11.4.4 Other Petroleum ....................................................................................462 11.4.5 Summary ...............................................................................................463 11.5 INDUSTRIAL SECTOR .....................................................................................463 11.5.1 Cooling ..................................................................................................464 11.5.2 Forestry..................................................................................................464 11.5.3 Chemical Plants.....................................................................................467 11.5.4 Coal Mining............................................................................................468 11.5.5 Other Industrial Activities.......................................................................468 11.5.6 Summary ...............................................................................................468 11.6 OTHER SECTOR..............................................................................................469 11.6.1 Water Management ...................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 11.6.2 Habitat Enhancement ............................................................................472 11.6.3 Specified Activities.................................................................................473 11.6.4 Summary ...............................................................................................473 11.7 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................474 Page i Alberta Environment Current and Future Water Use in Alberta March 2007 LIST OF FIGURES PAGE Figure 11-1 Distribution of Active Water Allocations in the Athabasca Basin ..........................423 Figure 11-2 Athabasca River Basin Surface Water Licenses ..................................................425 Figure 11-3 Athabasca River Basin Groundwater Licensees ..................................................427 Figure 11-4 Registrations in the Athabasca River Basin .........................................................429 Figure 11-5 Athabasca Basin Historical Municipal Water Allocations......................................433 Figure 11-6 Athabasca Basin Population Growth Forecast .....................................................436 Figure 11-7 Water Allocations for Agricultural Activities in the Athabasca Basin.....................437 Figure 11-8 Historical Trends in Water Allocation for Livestock in the Athabasca Basin.........440 Figure 11-9 Historical Trends in Allocations for Irrigation in the Athabasca Basin ..................445 Figure 11-10 Water Allocation for Commercial Activities in the Athabasca Basin ...................448 Figure 11-11 Historical Trend in Commercial Sector Allocations in the Athabasca Basin.......449 Figure 11-12 Petroleum Water Allocation by Use in the Athabasca Basin ..............................454 Figure 11-13 Historical Trends in Water Allocations for Oilsands Mining ................................456 Figure 11-14 Estimated Water Use for Major Oilsands Mines, Athabasca River Basin...........458 Figure 11-15 Historical Trends in Water Allocations for Thermal.............................................460 Figure 11-16 Historical Trends in Water Allocations for Gas/ Petrochemical Plants ...............461 Figure 11-17 Industrial Water Allocation by use in the Athabasca Basin ................................464 Figure 11-18 Historical Trends in Water Allocations for Forestry Activities .............................465 Figure 11-19 Other Sector Water Allocation by Use in the Athabasca Basin ..........................469 Figure 11-20 Historical Trends in Water Allocations for Water ManagementError! 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Figure 11-21 Historical Trends in Water Allocations for Habitat Enhancement ........................472 Figure 11-22 Water Allocations and Actual Use, by Sector, Athabasca River Basin...............475 Figure 11-23 Forecast Water Use in the Athabasca River Basin: Medium Scenario...............475 Page ii Alberta Environment Current and Future Water Use in Alberta March 2007 LIST OF TABLES PAGE Table 11-1 Population Distribution and Growth in Athabasca River Basin, 2001 ....................424 Table 11-2 2001 Urban and Rural Municipal Populations and Water Allocations within Athabasca River........................................................................................................................431 Table 11-3 2001 Populations and Water Allocations for Aboriginal Settlements in Athabasca River..........................................................................................................................................432 Table 11-4 Other Large Athabasca Basin Municipal Water Licences and Sources ................433 Table 11-5 Licensed and WURS Reported Diversions, Water Use and Returns by Type of Municipal Use for Athabasca Basin ..........................................................................................435 Table 11-6 Estimated Municipal Water Use in the Athabasca River Basin..............................436 Table 11-7 Projected Water Use for the Municipal Sector in the Athabasca Basin .................437 Table 11-8 Agricultural Land Use in the Athabasca River Basin, 2001 ...................................438 Table 11-9 Classifications of Farms in the Athabasca Basin and Alberta, 2001 .....................438 Table 11-10 Estimated Livestock Populations in the Athabasca Basin and Alberta, 2001......439 Table 11-11 Summary of Water Licences and Registrations Issued for Livestock Watering in the Athabasca Basin .................................................................................................................441 Table 11-12 Estimated Livestock Water Use Based on 2001 Animal Populations..................442 Table 11-13 Status of Applications under AOPA ......................................................................443 Table 11-14 Projected Water Use for Livestock in the Athabasca River Basin .......................444 Table 11-15 Irrigation Allocations and Use and Reported Actual Water Use, Athabasca River Basin .........................................................................................................................................446 Table 11-16 Projected Water Use for Agriculture in the Athabasca River Basin .....................447 Table 11-17 Licensed Commercial Allocations and Reported Actual Water Use, Athabasca Basin .........................................................................................................................................450 Table 11-18 Projected Water Use for Golf Course, Athabasca Basin .....................................452 Table 11-19 Projected Water Use for Aggregate Washing, Athabasca Basin.........................453 Table 11-20 Projected Water Use for Other, Athabasca Basin ...............................................453 Table 11-21 Projected Water Use for Commercial Sector in the Athabasca Basin .................454 Table 11-22 Licensed