The Oil Sands Monitoring Program has released its first state of the environment report focused on surface water quality and quantity across Alberta’s oil sands region.
Using data collected over 50 years from more than 150 monitoring locations, the report finds no clear, widespread changes in water quality downstream of the oil sands along the Athabasca River, while identifying some localized exceedances in some smaller rivers and streams that will be studied further.
The Oil Sands Monitoring Program is a collaborative effort between the provincial and federal governments, industry and Indigenous partners – and one of the largest environmental monitoring programs of its kind in the world.
“These findings reflect our province’s unwavering commitment to transparency, scientific excellence and environmental leadership. Albertans can be confident that our water is safe and that our energy sector is committed to responsible development. We will continue to work together with all our partners to steward our environment while fuelling our economy for generations to come.”
The report looked at more than 1,000 parameters, used 25 sets of guidelines, 2.5 million points of data and made more than five million individual comparisons to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Due to the area’s unique geology, water quality can be affected by naturally occurring bitumen coming to the surface, recent human activity, or both. The report found that:
- Overall water quality was consistent upstream and downstream of oil sands activities on the Athabasca River, showing no consistent pattern of change due to energy activity.
- More than half of the monitoring sites showed that levels of some metals (like dissolved zinc and titanium) have been going down over time.
- The report did find that levels of metals and salts have gone up in some of the smaller rivers and streams flowing into the Athabasca River.
- Whenever there are exceedances, they are studied carefully to determine if action is needed.
The program will act on these results by increasing research and monitoring. For example, research in the Muskeg River and other areas will better clarify the drivers of water quality changes and continue protecting residents and wildlife.
The report also found that water flow patterns in the Peace and Athabasca Rivers are complex and influenced by much more than the oil sands.
- Overall, the Peace River has flows approximately three times larger than the Athabasca River
- The Athabasca River has shown signs of both higher and lower flows over time, suggesting that its flow has become more variable. Some locations had more or less water, but there was no clear overall pattern.
- Industrial water withdrawals represent only a small proportion of overall river flow in the Athabasca River – about two per cent in winter and less than one per cent in summer.
The Oil Sands Monitoring Program will continue to work closely with Indigenous communities and industry to monitor the region and protect the environment while supporting a growing economy.
Quick facts
- Water quality assessments evaluated various materials including chloride, metals such as aluminum, ions, nutrients, herbicides, pesticides and chemicals like benzene.
- Data from water quality samples collected at more than 157 different sites in the region was used in the analysis. Data from between 1960 and 2023 was included in the analysis.
- Surface water quantity assessments were compiled from 84 monitoring sites on the Athabasca, Peace, and Slave Rivers and their tributaries. Data from between 1955 and 2023 was evaluated for patterns and changes over time.
- This data has no implications on drinking water safety, which tests in the region have repeatedly shown is safe and meets national guidelines. It is never recommended to drink untreated water anywhere in Alberta, as it can carry pathogens that pose health risks.