The government of Alberta has introduced legislation designed to update the province’s water-management regime after more than two decades without significant reform. The proposed bill – known as Bill 7, the Water Amendment Act – would modify the existing Water Act to address growing demands on water use from agriculture, business and expanding communities, while asserting that strong environmental safeguards will remain in place.

Among the key changes outlined by officials are streamlined procedures for licensing and decision-making, new requirements for consistent measurement and reporting of water use by license holders, and clearer rules for the use of alternative water sources such as treated wastewater and rain-water harvesting. The government notes that since the Water Act was last substantially updated in 1999, Alberta’s population has nearly doubled and pressures on water allocation have increased accordingly.

Agriculture and irrigation stakeholders, especially irrigators, have welcomed the efforts, pointing out that the current system has imposed constraints on prompt water-use adjustments during dry seasons or changing conditions.

Under Alberta’s proposed Bill 7, the province’s long-standing water allocation framework would remain largely unchanged, with existing licence holders keeping their current rights. The bill does not include provisions for royalties or volume-based pricing. Instead, it focuses on clarifying decision-making processes to encourage conservation and support healthy aquatic systems while making it easier for users to modify or consolidate licences.

If adopted, the legislation would enable the government to establish firm timelines for reviewing water applications and streamline administrative changes for farmers, ranchers and other licence holders. The intent is to create more flexibility for those managing water on the ground while improving overall efficiency in its use.

Bill 7 would also modernize Alberta’s rules around inter-basin water transfers by allowing lower-risk projects to be approved by ministerial order rather than through a full legislative process. This change, according to officials, would help communities respond more quickly in emergencies such as disruptions to local drinking-water supplies.

By modernizing outdated rules and cutting red tape, Bill 7 positions Alberta to better manage its most vital resource in the decades ahead. The proposed changes would give communities, farmers and businesses more flexibility to respond to local needs while maintaining environmental safeguards. The legislation represents a practical step toward a stronger, more resilient water system that works for all Albertans.