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Overview
We are gathering feedback from Alberta Indigenous communities and organizations, industry operators, technology providers, other governments and other key stakeholders to inform implementation of the recommendations from the Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee and establish long-term solutions for mine water management and tailings pond reclamation.
While industry has drastically cut freshwater use per barrel and strengthened science-driven reclamation, the current storage capacity is reaching its limit, with billions of litres of oil sands mine water in tailing ponds and several mines nearing the end of their operational life and with others working to achieve progressive reclamation requirements.
This work reflects Alberta’s commitment to ongoing collaboration to build a long-term, science driven approach to oil sands mine water management and tailings pond reclamation.
Get informed
The Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee evaluated options and delivered 9 recommendations to accelerate oil sands mine water management and tailings pond reclamation.
Read about the Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee recommendations.
Stakeholder engagement
During 2026 stakeholders will have the opportunity to share their expertise and perspectives on oil sands mine water management through technical sessions, meetings, roundtable discussions, meetings and written feedback. Engagement includes industry operators, technology providers, governments of the Northwest Territories, Canada and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, non-profit organizations and others to inform implementation of the recommendations, including:
Stakeholder input will focus on:
- separating and using water so less is stored long term
- sharing water across mines so more can be reused and managed within the watershed
- deep well disposal of limited volumes of concentrated and legacy oil sands mine water
- creating standard methods to measure naphthenic acid, and setting science-based rules for treating and safely releasing water
- establishing criteria for pit lakes based on proven research and progress
- enhancing water monitoring transparency and timeliness to support implementing the recommendations
Indigenous engagement
Alberta Indigenous communities and organizations in and downstream of the oil sands mining regions will be engaged.
Outcomes
Feedback will help shape a future provincial approach for managing oil sands mine water and fluid tailings.
News
- Taking action on oilsands mine water (May 19, 2026)
- New recommendations to address tailings ponds (September 5, 2025)
- Using science and technology to reduce tailings ponds (June 12, 2025)