Adaptation Planning
Case Study: Calgary, BC
About the Case Study
Community Context
Climate-related Changes
Community Impacts
Adaptation Actions
More Information
About The Case Study
In 2005, Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) partnered with the City of Calgary to undertake a study of future water demand in the Calgary Region. The City provided detailed data on water consumption patterns and researchers from the Geological Survey of Canada analyzed the data through multi-faceted modelling, generating a climate trend analysis and a future climate time series projection. These quantitative measures identify future vulnerabilities that, in turn, will help inform policy and decision-making by the City of Calgary. This summary is based on Calgary Municipal Case Study, one of five in NRCan’s Municipal Case Study series: Climate Change and the Planning Process, and draws on other resources listed at the end of this document.
Community Context
The greater Calgary area has a population of over one million people and is expected to double by the year 2064. This population, along with surrounding rural communities and agricultural areas, rely solely on water from the Bow and Elbow Rivers. These rivers have their headwaters high in the snow pack and glaciers of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and flow eastward as part of the South Saskatchewan River Basin, eventually reaching the Arctic Ocean via Hudson’s Bay. The City is situated in one of the driest regions in Canada. Due to dry climate, Calgarians are large consumers of water. Over the past decade, the amount of water consumed per person has remained higher than in many other North American cities.
Climate-related Changes
Increasing Air Temperature
Historic climate records indicate a warming trend in the Canadian prairies in general and in Calgary specifically. The average annual temperature is increasing by about 1.0°C per 100 years.
Changes in Precipitation
Analysis of the annual precipitation records shows that the number of days with precipitation has increased, but the annual variation in precipitation has declined. In other words, more wet days with less precipitation per day.
Declining Stream Flow
In the Calgary area, the rate at which water is transferred from the earth into the atmosphere — evapotranspiration — is higher than precipitation. This means that the trend to more wet days with less precipitation could increase evapotranspiration, and result in less recharge and reduced water flow to rivers. Total annual flow-rate in Calgary has declined by 5.7% over the last 90 years.
Community Impacts
Water Demand will Exceed Supply
Total water demand in Calgary has almost doubled since 1969 and is rising by about 5% each year. As climate change reduces the amount of water available, and future demand increases fueled by a growing population, demand will approach and eventually exceed supply.
Adaptation Actions
Since Calgary has few options to increase supply, conservation will be important to address this climate change issue. A key finding of this research was that a 50% conservation effort will be essential to achieve a sustainable water supply by 2064. In response to this, Calgary aims to accommodate the City’s future population growth with the same amount of water used today. The City is implementing these water conservation efforts through strategic planning, guide publications, and youth education.
- In 2005, Calgary published a draft of the document, Water Efficiency Plan. A number of strategies and efficiency measures are outlined in this plan, including:
- lead by example;
- align policy with conservation objectives;
- match water quality to water use;
- encourage use of water efficient technology;
- provide technical assistance;
- foster a “conservation ethic”; and
- participate in community outreach.
- Calgary’s Water Services Department has produced a number of guides to encourage and help Calgarians to make the most efficient use of limited water supply, including:
- Indoor Water Conservation;
- Commercial Water Efficiency, Lawn and Garden;
- Water Conservation for Multi-Family Residents, Water Management in Calgary Parks; and
- Why Conserve Water.
- Calgary has a staff dedicated to educating youth about water. Currently, the following programs are under way:
- Yellow Fish Road Program;
- Water Works! School Program;
- Bow River Basin Waterscape poster;
- Teacher Resources; and
- Teachers’ Guides to the Bow River Basin.
More Information
Calgary Municipal Case Study
This summary draws on NRCan’s Calgary Municipal Case Study, one of five in NRCan’s Municipal Case Study series: Climate Change and the Planning Process. The five case studies are available on the Canadian Institute of Planners website; additional information about the municipal case studies’ research studies is available on NRCan’s website.
Case Study-Specific Resources
City of Calgary - Water Efficiency Plan
City of Calgary - Water efficiency guides
City of Calgary - Youth education about water
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