Responsible water use

Water use at our generation facilities serves two major purposes: making steam and cooling. For the most part, steam systems are close-looped, i.e. the water is heated into steam, and subsequently condensed back into water and reused. Cooling water systems are similar but may draw from an external source and discharge back into that source. Some water is lost in the process through natural evaporation into the atmosphere, remaining in the water cycle.

Approximately 92% of Capital Power’s water is drawn from the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta and 72% is returned back to the river. Other water sources include municipal water and recycled water. Most facilities return water to their source in relatively the same quantity and quality as it was when taken from that source.

We are a member of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance - part of the Alberta Government’s Water for Life initiative.

Water withdrawals for plant operations

Our water withdrawals decreased in 2013 as a result of the sale of the New England natural-gas assets.