Water-Proofing Alberta’s Urban Communities: Countering the Effects of Climate Change, Urbanization and Water Scarcity through a Comprehensive One-Water Source Protection Plan

Calgary is located within a 'closed' watershed, where the amount of water available for urban growth and development is finite, yet rapidly continues. Climate change predictions forecast increasing drought, heat, storms, and flooding, which when coupled with increased urbanization, will erode water quality. These disparate, yet interactive complex issues require a comprehensive data-driven ‘One-Water’ management approach. Many new and emerging surveillance tools have been developed which have proven to be valuable in addressing urban pollution problems. The data generated can be used to help mitigate risks, identify emerging concerns, and help guide infrastructure planning or pollution control strategies.