WaterSMART Solutions Ltd.
June 24, 2025
23-WIPC-01
Executive Summary
The Report, titled Identifying Barriers to Water Recycling in Alberta Hydraulic Fracturing [Draft] was commissioned by PTAC and prepared by WaterSMART Solutions Ltd. The study was designed to explore why water recycling rates in Alberta’s hydraulic fracturing (HF) sector remain low despite regulatory encouragement and growing environmental awareness. It also compares Alberta’s situation with that of British Columbia (BC), where recycling is significantly more prevalent.
The work was funded by AUPRF, with additional guidance from PTAC and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). It involved interviews with representatives from 20 HF operators active in Alberta, some of whom also operate in BC and the US.
WaterSMART Solutions Ltd. is a Calgary-based strategic consulting and engineering firm specializing in water management. Founded in 2005 and acquired by Hazen and Sawyer in 2024, WaterSMART provides expertise in environmental science, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable water strategy development for the energy sector and beyond.