The Tide Changes on Water Management Water management in Alberta is changing. For over a century, Alberta's water resources were governed by the largely unchanged Water Resources Act and preceding federal legislation. Water rights under the new legislation differ significantly from those created by the former legislation. Both priority and potential allocations differ for each of these categories.
Domestic use is limited to approximately one acre foot per year.
Existing licensees who obtained licences under the Water Resources Act retain their existing priority. New licensees must proceed through the new application process. The new Water Ac t poses a number of challenges to new applicants which did not exist under the previous legislation. More Extensive Enforcement Enforcement under the new Act also differs substantially from the Water Resources Act . The Water Act deals extensively with offences, liability, penalties, investigations and prosecutions.