Drainage and Drought Support

Ensuring Water Security for Our Community

Water in our municipality is essential not only for residential use but also for agriculture, industry, and emergency response. These various needs require different levels of water quality and quantity and sometimes compete for the same water resources. With changing geographics and climate, water availability can shift from being plentiful to experiencing drought conditions rapidly.

 

Agricultural Water Needs

Agricultural producers rely heavily on water for raising livestock and crop production. Each of these requires specific water quality and quantity. Depending on the size and scale of the operation, there may be additional needs for accessing alternative water sources.

Additional Water Source: Town of Viking’s Seasonal Filtered Raw Water

Agricultural producers in within a 100 km radius of the Town of Viking are eligible to access the Town of Viking’s Seasonal Filtered Raw Water location. The pumping station, located adjacent to the Town Reservoir, supplies untreated (non-potable) water for agricultural use.

Note: The water is untreated and is provided on a 'use at your own risk' basis. An application is required to access the pumping station.

Town of Viking - Seasonal Filtered Raw Water

The Government of Alberta offers two key programs to assist agricultural producers in securing adequate water supplies:

Provincial Water Pumping Program

The Provincial Water Pumping Program allows producers to rent pipe and pumping equipment to fill dugouts from nearby water sources. Equipment and pipe are delivered from dispatch locations across the province to the pumping site, with rental rates covering one day of setup, one day of pumping, and one day to dismantle the equipment. Available equipment includes PTO-driven pumps (6-inch) and trailers with up to 1 mile of 6-inch pipe. Additional pumps and trailers can be requested if needed.

Provincial Water Pumping Program

Note: A license or temporary diversion license is usually required to pump water from rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. Equipment cannot be delivered until the appropriate license is obtained. Applicants can apply for a temporary diversion license through Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.

Temporary Livestock Water Assistance

This program aids livestock or poultry producers who need an urgent alternative water supply for their animals. Producers should contact their local Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) District Office to work together on identifying and assessing alternative water sources and potential impacts on the aquatic environment and other water users.

Examples of alternative water sources include:

  • Stormwater ponds
  • Gravel pits
  • Stock water dams (greater than 2,500 cubic meters)
  • Beaver dams or ponds on non-fish-bearing watercourses
  • Larger rivers or wetlands (depending on fish-bearing status)
  • Municipal bulk watering stations
  • Last polishing cell from a municipal wastewater treatment lagoon

EPA will assist with the streamlined authorization process under the Water Act for temporary use of new water sources.

The local offices for the County are the Capital District and the Red Deer District, depending on what part of the County you require assistance in. Please refer to the program information to confirm, and request support.

Program Information

 

In Alberta, there is water policy and legislation in place to ensure the quality and quantity of our water resources and to ensure thriving ecosystems now and into the future. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is responsible for overseeing this legislation. 

The Alberta Water Act came into force on January 1, 1999 and focuses on the planning, use, and enforcement needed to manage and protect Alberta’s water. 

The Water for Life Strategy—Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability is the Government of Alberta’s comprehensive water management plan. The strategy was released in 2003 and a renewed strategy was released in 2008 reaffirming the Government's commitment to: 

  • safe, secure drinking water supply 
  • healthy aquatic ecosystems 
  • reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy 

Water Wells

Are you looking for water wells on your property? Check out Alberta Water Wells

Are you thinking of making changes to surface water on your land?

Under the Water Act, ALL water in Alberta, including water that is on private land, is the property of the Crown and is to be protected by the Government of Alberta. 

Therefore, if a landowner wishes to undertake in an activity that: 

  • may affect the land or vegetation under or around a water body, OR 
  • may affect the location, flow, or quality of the water or aquatic environment, 

Prior authorization is required from Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA).  This includes any changes to drainage or changes to the purpose of a diversion, the installation of tile drainage, infilling, and the creation of dugouts, ditches, berms, and water crossings. 

The County regularly inspects its roads and infrastructure for instances of illegal drainage. Under the County’s Overland Drainage Policy, if a landowner has altered the drainage on their land and the alteration is deemed to impact County's infrastructure, the landowner will receive a warning from the County and a report to AEPA will be filed.

Wetlands are important not only for wildlife and the environment but can also  reduce the effects of drought for agricultural lands by recharging soil moisture and ground water supply. Therefore, leaving the wetlands on your land intact is crucial to keeping agriculture sustainable for you and your neighbors.

For more information on the Water Act and the importance of wetlands, please see the Landowner’s Guide to the Alberta Wetland Policy or AEPA Wetlands page.

What should you do if you suspect an adjacent landowner is not complying with the Water Act?

If you suspect that an adjacent landowner’s activities are impacting the water flow on your land, the first thing to do is speak with the adjacent landowner to try and find an appropriate solution. 

If you suspect the adjacent landowner is not in compliance with the Water Act, you can file a complaint with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas by calling the 24-hour Environmental Hotline at 1-800-222-6514.  

What is Beaver County's policy on beaver management?

Beaver control measures on private land, such as trapping and dam removal, will not be completed by Beaver County and shall be the landowner's sole responsibility. 

If the beaver(s) or beaver dam(s) are on private land and are affecting County infrastructure or have the potential to threaten County infrastructure, the County may complete the work at no cost to the landowner. 

Beaver County will respond to requests from ratepayers or other agencies for beaver control on municipal lands and may actively pursue and eradicate beaver and beaver dams on all municipally-controlled property. 

For drainage and beaver-related concerns on primary and secondary highways, please report to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors regional office at 780-853-8178 or call the local Contract Management Area contractor, Emcon Services Inc, through their 24/7 report line at 1-800-390-2242. 

Click here for the County’s Overland Drainage Policy. 

Can a landowner remove a beaver dam?

Beaver County does not have the authority on this matter. 

The removal of debris in water bodies is not the responsibility of the Government of Alberta or the local municipality. A person who owns or occupies the land adjacent to a water body may remove debris (including beaver dams) without a Water Act authorization if the water body is not frequented by fish. A Public Lands Act authorization may still be needed. 

Remember that if you are going to be doing any digging, you need to call Alberta One Call prior to completing the work to avoid potentially damaging a buried utility line. 

A courtesy notification should be provided to adjacent landowners if downstream impacts of the debris removal are anticipated.