Industrial Impacts on Water in Alberta

Major water issues in Alberta that are exacerbated by industry can include chemical pollutants and spills, deforestation and road construction from oil and gas activity, and sulphur and nitrogen dioxide emissions that cause acid rain.

University of Alberta Research

Wabamun Lake Wabamun lake is situated approximately 60 km west of Edmonton on Highway 16. Recent research discovered elevated concentrations of aluminium, chromium, arsenic and copper in sediment near the TransAlta power plant situated beside the lake. Dr. Bill Donahue and others at the University of Alberta are working to quantify the impact of coal-fired power plants in the area.

Roads, beavers, and wetlands What is the extent and spacial pattern of wetlands created by beavers and roads? How do they differ? Two graduate students, Kathryn Martell (left) and Nadele Flynn (right), who are studying with Dr. Lee Foote, are working to compare the effects of roads and beavers, and the importance of buffers.
Impacts of a petroleum pipeline failure in the Alberta foothills Cam Stevens, a PhD candidate in the department of Biological Sciences with Dr. Cindy Paszkowski, had the unique opportunity to study the impact of one of the approximately 700 reported pipeline failures that occur each year in Alberta. A small pipeline transporting industrial bactericide and corrosion inhibitors failed, leaking between 2 and 20 cubic metres of fluid into a local stream.
Hydrological and hydrochemical investigations in a glacial lake catchment: implications for organochlorine transport Melissa Lafreniere recently completed her PhD while studying with Drs. Martin Sharp of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and David Schindler of Biological Sciences. The aim of her research was to investigate differences in water sources and hydrological flow routing of runoff between glacial and non-glacial watersheds, and to determine how these differences affect the transport of organochlorine contaminants to Bow Lake in Banff National Park.
Mercury deposition and accumulation in Canadian Rocky Mountain lakes Erin Kelly, under the supervision of Dr. David Schindler is researching the extent of mercury contamination and bioaccumulation in the Rocky Mountains, and in lakes of differing elevation.