Oilsands may face severe water shortages, Athabasca River study suggests

The Athabasca River, highway construction and suburbs seen from a helicopter in Fort McMurray, Alta., on July 10, 2012. Water for the oilsands industry comes mainly from northern Alberta’s Athabasca River, and oilsands account for 72 per cent of estimated water use from the river. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

‘The river is much more variable than you would think based on measurements since 1950s’

By Emily Chung, CBC News, Sept 21, 2015

The river that provides water to the oilsands industry is much more prone to multi-year droughts than modern records show, suggesting that the industry’s current level of water use may not be sustainable, a new study suggests.

The oilsands industry needs 3.1 barrels of fresh water to produce a barrel of crude oil from oilsands mining and 0.4 barrels of fresh water to produce a barrel of crude oil from oilsands drilling, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

Jackpine Tar Sands mine will destroy wetlands and wildlife, First Nations say

Mine will create $17 billion in taxes, royalties and create 750 full time jobs, Shell says

Banner drop on Shell station in Vancouver, Oct 23, 2012.

Angela Sterritt CBC News, Dec 09, 2013

The largest known reservoir of crude bitumen in the world is about to get even bigger, but Alice Rigney is in no mood to celebrate.

Rigney was raised in Northern Alberta on the Athabasca River that now runs directly through multiple oil sands projects.

“That river is our lifeline and has been for thousands of years. It has always sustained us with fish, food, water and travel – everything,” said Rigney.