Looking Forward

As we move into the final year of Champion status, EPCOR will continue to improve environmental performance through various programs and initiatives in 2021 and beyond.  Even though the Stewardship Agreement will come to an end formally on May 31, 2021, we will continue to strive to meet the spirit of the agreements.  Going forward, EPCOR will:

• Continue to maintain registration to ISO14001:2015 at our Water Treatment Plants and in our Distribution and Transmission operations. The ISO systems are based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act principle and require regular auditing, review and continuous improvement.
• Continue to work with our partners to maintain and sustain WaterSHED: the network of water quality and flow monitoring stations in the North Saskatchewan River watershed.  Our partners are Alberta Environment and Parks, the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance and the City of Edmonton as part of a comprehensive water quality monitoring initiative in the basin.  EPCOR plans to secure funding to sustain the WaterSHED program beyond 2021.  The data that is collected over time will contribute to a better understanding of changes occurring in the watershed and to the Edmonton drinking water source now and into the future.
• Complete the design and construction of a solar panel installation at the E. L. Smith Water Treatment plant to meet our commitment to the City that at least 10% of the water system energy is provided by green energy.  Also, continue to evaluate other ways in which we can reduce our GHG footprint through improvements in our operations.
• Continue to work with our stakeholders to execute the five-year plan of "Troubled Water" emergency exercises based on the Regional Water Quality Emergency Framework that has been developed.
• Continue to make progress on the Enhanced Lead Mitigation Strategy that was approved in 2019 and initiated in 2020. This will include commissioning of facilities to add orthophosphate to the drinking water at both water treatment plants by the end of 2022, full removal of high priority lead service lines by the end of 2023 and ongoing full (main-to-meter) lead service line replacements during water main renewals and maintenance work.  
• Continue to engage with Alberta Environment and Parks on the Capital Region Industrial Heartland Water Management Framework and ensure that our Water Treatment Plant residuals management strategy is aligned with that framework. 
• Implement a more rigorous and scientific-based monitoring program and environmental impact assessment for the water treatment plant residuals discharged to the North Saskatchewan River and develop a strategy to meet environmental water quality guidelines by modifying how residuals are discharged.