Many Edmontonians believe the North Saskatchewan River is dirty and unsafe due to its brown colour, but Martin Dugas, executive director at the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta, said that's not true in an interview with Taproot's Speaking Municipally.
"It's an amazing water system, we're very fortunate that its quite still and quite deep and wide," he said. "The water quality and health is actually quite amazing."
Dugas suggested the river valley's history as a source of coal contributes to the persistent myth that the water is unclean. The Whitemud Creek Coal Mine, Edmonton's last, closed in 1970.
"Now our water has never been cleaner," Dugas said.
EPCOR notes on its myths page that the river is "naturally sediment rich" which helps give the river its muddy appearance.
Dugas said the brown foam sometimes seen on the river is normal organic matter and is "a very healthy part of the river."
"There's a whole combination of things that might be misinterpreted that are actually quite healthy on the river," he said.
As the primary water source for the growing Edmonton region, the health of the river is critical. The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta regularly collects dozens of measurements to monitor the health of the river, and shares that information with governments and other partners.
Edmonton's city council will receive an update later this month on the potential effects of coal mining projects on the city's water.
Dugas said there's no backup plan if the river were to become contaminated with selenium or other toxins. "There is no other solution that has the capacity that is required," he said.