In Alberta, 90 per cent of the water flows northward while 90 of the population lives in the south. Although the province has ample overall water, its distribution will require more sophisticated management as demand increases. Political squabbles, sometimes fierce, are virtually inevitable between industries, municipalities, and other users. The Canada West Foundation has just produced a 122-page report – From H2O: Turning Alberta’s Water Headache into Opportunity – on behalf of the three-year-old Alberta Water Research Institute.

No dynamite conclusions are reached. However, if you’re seriously interested in the subject, this document provides a readable survey of supply, demand, and policy options. The report can be downloaded free of charge here.