Sustaining water like this.

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 95% of Capital Power’s water is drawn from the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta and over 80% is returned back to the river. Other water sources include groundwater, 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. The alliance finalized an Integrated Watershed Management Plan in June 2012 that will guide the protection, maintenance and restoration of the North Saskatchewan River watershed, in a way that balances environmental, social and economic needs.

Water withdrawals for plant operations

Our water withdrawals increased in 2012 as a result of increased generation and the installation of a wet bottom ash system at our Southport facility.