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Environmental leadership at EPCO​​R

We empower our people to be leaders on environmen​t and public health by anticipating the future direction of regulation and legislation, being early adopters of technologies and improved operating practices, and acting as trusted advisors to policy makers.​​

​This culture of environmental leadership has led to EPCOR being recognized as: one of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens, an EnviroVista champion-level operator in Alberta, one of America’s Utilities of the Future Today, and a Canada’s Clean50 award winner for environmental sustainability.

EPCOR’s leadership is underpinned by its Health, Safety and Environment Policy​, which commits the company to “preventing pollution and reducing our environmental impacts, including those contributing to climate change and affecting the ecosystems in which we operate.” 

This commitment is backed by disciplined day-to-day operations, with most of EPCOR’s Canadian operations holding third-party ISO 14001:2015 certification for their environmental management systems. Through its Enterprise Risk Management program, the company identifies, manages and monitors business risks that could significantly impact day-to-day operations or its ability to achieve its long-term plans.​​

Scorecard at a ​​glance

Our performance measures, data and targets speak to the importance we place on protecting the environment. We have innovative programs and initiatives underway that are helping to reduce our environmental footpri​nt, protect critical infrastructure and support community resiliency and sustainability. We seek to exceed the minimum requirements for our industry, and are always looking for innovative ways to improve our approach.​​

​Net g​reenhouse ​​gas emissions​ (tCO2e)

​213,927 tonnes

​EPCOR owned and leased, company-wide Scope 1 and 2 emissions net of offsets (tC02e)

​2020
 193,072 tonnes​
2021​​​
 203,626 tonnes​
2022
 213,927 tonnes​


Target: 50% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, 85% by 2035, and net zero by 2050, compared to baseline 2020 emissions.

Although the expansion of our operational footprint across North America and growing community demands have resulted in overall yearly increases, we are still on track to meet our 2025 target.

Climate mitigation: Our pathway to net zero​​​

P​​rotect river water quality

​4​​4,321 kilograms/day​

Annual discharges of suspended solids into the North Saskatchewan River from land drainage, wastewater treatment operations and combined sewer overflows (kg/day)*

​2018
 45,205 kg/day​
​2019
 62,245 kg/day
​2020
 ​65,245 kg/day
​2021
 31,312 kg/day​​​
​2022
 44,321 kg/day​​​

Performance measure: annual discharges of total suspended solids into the North Saskatchewan River from land drainage, water and wastewater treatment operations, and combined sewer overflows.

*Data from 2018 to 2021 was recalculated using new methodology in 2022. Learn more about our methodology and sources of solids loading.

Our work to protect river water quality​​​​

Implementation of Edmonton flood resilience upgrades

Protect utility assets and critical infrastructure from river flooding to at least a 1:200-year flood event (percentage implemented)​

Implementation of Edmonton flood resilience upgrades

12%

Protect utility assets and critical infrastructure from river flooding to at least a 1:200-year flood event (percentage implemented)

​​​2018
 ​Initiated
​2019
 1%​
2020​ ​4%
​2021
 6%*
​2022
 12%

Target: complete asset protection and relocation, and backflow prevention, by 2024; and complete flood barriers by December 2027.

*The calculation for progress was improved in 2022 and now includes all flood mitigation components being implemented.

Limi​​t water loss

5.7% 

​Limit the percentage of treated drinking water lost due to transmission and distribution line leaks and failures, and inaccurate meters (U.S. and Canada combined).

​​​2018
 6.5%​
2019​
 ​​6.1%
​2020
 6.2%​
​2021
 5.7%​

Performance data only, with reporting lagging by one year.

W​​astewater reuse (USA)

93​.​1% 

Percentage of treated effluent reused or used to recharge aquifiers (not including San Tan operations).

​​​2018
 ​95.7%
​2019
 96.7%​
2020​ 94.4%​
​2021
 93.1%​

Target: 90% beneficial reuse and/or recharge of treated effluent by existing U.S. operations and a commitment to set targets for each ne​​w, expanded or acquired U.S. wastewater operation in arid regions.

Our wastewater reuse efforts
in the U.S.​​
​
​​1 Information on how our emissions data is calculated ca​n be found here.​​

​Behind the numbers: scorecard in co​​ntext

Our environmental scorecard:

​Affirms the need for urgent climate action, reporting on EPCOR’s achievement of its greenhouse gas reduction targets and the company’s accelerated pathway to net zero

Sustains the company’s leading role in watershed protection, reporting on multi-utility strategies to reduce total loading to the North Saskatchewan River​

​Protects the integrity of utility operations, reporting on the implementation of flood resilience upgrades to protect water and electricity utility assets and the integrity of water distribution and transmission systems

Supports community sustainability and health, reporting on efforts to recharge desert aquifers with treated wastewater, monitor and protect source water in the North Saskatchewan River basin, and implement the lead mitigation strategy in Edmonton

 

Environment and climate change at EPCOR

At EPCOR, we're minimizing our own environmental footprint, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and enforcing an enterprise-wide Integrated Health, Safety & Environment Management System. These actions, and many others are outlined in our environment and climate change strategy, our climate mitigation plan, and our environment management foundations information.

Our commitment to the environment
 

​Our commitment in action

From protecting our water to investing in green energy, our environment and climate change strategy is supported by real actions that are making a measurable difference in protecting our environment. We’re building stronger infrastructure and communities, and we’re doing it in a way that positively impacts the environment and address climate change.

See the operational projects that demonstrate
our environmental commitment​​


Featured stories​


Water Scarcit​y

In the booming Southwest U.S., EPCOR is leading with innovations and partnering with communities, ​regulators and policymakers to navigate an historic drought.

Future Grid

EPCOR’s Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS)is a new and innovative way to manage the production, storage, and flow of electrical energy in our community.

Dry Ponds

Dry ponds are part of our holistic approach to protect communities from flooding.

Full circle

From heat-producing biogas and golf course hydration, to nutrients for farmers' fields - for EPCOR, wastewater is never wasted water.
​

Upping t​he cre​ek

Less than a decade ago, Saskatchewan's Qu'Appelle River watershed was in trouble. EPCOR's public-private partnership with the City of Regina turned things around thanks to innovative wastewater technology.

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The North Saskatchewan​ River and climate change​

Our job is to collaboratively manage and protect the North Saskatchewan River for the more than 1 million people in 70 communities who rely on its water. To protect our water supply, we need to protect the environment and take action on climate change.

Read how we protect the North Saskatchewan River

​​

Securing water supplies in the desert southwest

Climate change and a declining Colorado River threatens the water supply in the southwestern United States. EPCOR partnerships, as well as solutions to safely reuse water, protect the water supply, and provide safe water for communities.

Learn more about our water reclamation initiatives​

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