Water Federation News

If you've ever wondered why Alberta's drinking water regulations are so rigorous, or why your co-op follows such strict testing and reporting protocols, the answer lies in a tragedy that happened over 2,000 kilometers away.

The security of our water systems is critical to delivering safe, reliable drinking water across Alberta. The recent Outlook, Saskatchewan incident shows how vulnerable these systems can be and why learning from it is essential to protect local co‑ops.

There is no single preferred approach for how Alberta water co-ops should handle utility billing. The right method depends on your infrastructure, membership structure, administrative capacity and what your service agreements and bylaws allow.

We want to know more about our membership's needs! Please take a few moments to complete this quick online survery.

Running a water co-op means keeping the water safe, the system reliable, and the costs affordable for your neighbors. Canoe Procurement helps achieve this by providing access to the same municipal rates enjoyed by large cities (like Edmonton and Calgary).

Join us for our 2026 AGM. Connect with fellow members, take in expert-led sessions, and explore our tradeshow. Register to attend or secure a booth. Full speaker details and presentation topics will be shared in the agenda closer to the meeting date.

The Water Federation made waves at two major conferences this fall - AWWOW Water Week Oct 28-31 and the ACCA conference Nov 3-5.

As a volunteer certified operator for Valley View Acres Utilities LTD, a small community of 15 houses south of Calgary, Mike Mau knows firsthand the immense responsibility of providing safe, reliable drinking water.

The Water Federation Chair Gary Houston has received the Co-op Visionary Leadership Award from the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ACCA).

The Water Federation participated in the Western Canada Water Annual Conference in Edmonton (Sept 16-19), joining national water professionals & industry leaders to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, & explore trends in water & wastewater management.

The Water Federation has released its 2024 Rural Water Study Summary, offering critical insights into the challenges and opportunities facing rural water systems across the province.

At the beginning of August, the Water Federation hosted its first Leadership Safety Training workshop. The event brought together co-op leaders from across the province for a full day of learning on safety and leadership.

Gary Houston of Westview Water Supply Ltd. shares how remote monitoring transformed a decades-old rural water system into a safe, responsive, tech-enabled operation.

The Water Federation is leading GIS project to help improve mapping for Alberta's volunteer-run water co-ops.