Through long-term planning and strong partnerships, Cochrane has the licences needed to support the community now and into the future. These licences give the town the ability to draw the volume of water we need from the Bow River to support the future needs of our community.
Partnerships have been key to this strategy. For example, Cochrane works with organizations like the Girl Guides of Canada and the Province of Alberta to manage water responsibly. By combining different types of licences and returning most of the water used back to the river, the town ensures a dependable and sustainable water supply for years to come.
Water conservation also plays an important role. Community stewardship, tiered water rates and leak detection initiatives help make the most of the water we have, supporting a resilient and sustainable community.
Through smart planning, partnerships and ongoing conservation, Cochrane is ready to meet the needs of residents and businesses for decades ahead.
FAQs
A water licence is a legal authorization under Alberta law to store, divert, extract or use water for the construction, maintenance and operation of works.
A water licence is required to use or divert water in Alberta.
In 2006, the Province of Alberta placed a moratorium on new water licences in the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan River subbasins to mitigate concerns that the rivers had been over-allocated. As a result, water licences are transferred or traded between buyers and sellers in a market-based system. To support growth, Cochrane must acquire additional water licences to divert more water from the Bow River (our main water source) for treatment and distribution as potable water.
Previously, Cochrane had licensing to support a population up to 47,000 people. Now, with the final consumptive licence in place, Cochrane is well-positioned to support growth through 2055, a projected population of 90,000-100,000 people according to Cochrane Growth Study estimates. This capacity can also be increased based on Cochrane's water conservation efforts. In 2023, we used only 65 per cent of this capacity.
No. The cost of new water licences is covered by builders through a connection fee, implemented in September 2023. This fee is applied at the building permit stage to recover the cost of new water licences required to support growth.
We all have a role to play
Help reduce Cochrane’s water use while lowering your utility bill. Check out our water conservation tips.
