Our plan in action
By working together, we can achieve our municipal servicing objectives though leveraging partnerships, attracting research and industry investment, and finding innovative solutions.
Relevant Links
Mandate
As mandated by the Government of Alberta, the EMRB is responsible for developing and implementing a regional servicing plan. The current plan was developed between 2017 and 2019, with the participation of our member municipalities, and received the province’s approval in 2020.
How we developed the servicing plan
Environmental scan
As part of developing the servicing plan, the EMRB undertook an environmental scan of all service areas identified in the EMRB Regulation: transportation and regional transit, solid waste, water, stormwater and wastewater, fire and emergency management services, and emergency management.
The Board determined that several service areas were already being addressed in other ways and did not need to be included in the servicing plan. This meant the servicing plan could target those services with more immediate regional potential, namely, solid waste management, stormwater management, fire and EMS, and emergency management.
Read about the environmental scan (PDF, 11.9 MB)Stormwater management
Our vision for the Region is to have protected natural assets while achieving resilience from stormwater impacts. Stormwater management refers to the collection, conveyance, storage, and discharge of stormwater runoff (e.g., rainfall, snow melt).
Stormwater action plan
The first stormwater action plan, approved by the Board in August 2021, is a catalyst for advancing and building resilience against stormwater impacts. Efforts are underway at a regional level to enhance our understanding, preparation, and mitigation of flood risks through ongoing flood mapping.
Read the stormwater action plan (PDF, 826 KB)
Flood risk assessment model
While increased frequency and severity of storms has resulted in flooding of many properties, EMRB member municipalities don’t have to start from scratch when it comes to flood mitigation. Building on the success of EPCOR’s Stormwater Integrated Resource Plan (SIRP), the EMRB has developed a flood risk assessment model for the Region using geographic information system (GIS) data. This is an essential first step to help prioritize future capital and operational investments in flood mitigation. It also supports each municipality in developing targeted flood mitigation strategies to improve flood readiness and resilience.
Regional waste management
Without intervention, growth in population and employment is expected to increase the amount of waste generated in the Region, which will require additional resources and infrastructure to manage. Waste can also be a valuable resource in a circular economy.
Our vision is to lead the way to a zero-waste Region. Achieving zero-waste will require reducing solid waste generated, while at the same time maximizing recycling and composting across the Region.
Solid waste action plan
The solid waste action plan, approved by the Board in 2021, emphasizes a coordinated approach, and aims for increased efficiency and standardization through working together to reduce GHG emissions. Key focus areas include regional organics and industrial commercial institutional (ICI) waste. Detailed waste studies in these areas provide a basis for informed decision-making, guiding the Region toward more effective management of waste.
View solid waste action plan (PDF, 696 KB)
Regional solid waste data strategy
In partnership with two waste commissions and EMRB member municipalities, one of the first initiatives to be actioned under the action plan was a regional solid waste data strategy, which will create efficiencies on how to manage waste, opportunities for investment into new industries and energy generation, and tackle issues related to greenhouse gas emissions.
View data strategy (PDF, 1 MB)Through stakeholder engagement, the EMRB has undertaken a current state analysis of regional organics to identify strategies and tools to improve organics management and improve circularity. The report also identifies considerations for the EMRB in developing a regional organics waste strategy.
Read the report (coming soon)
Guiding implementation
Work on implementing the servicing plan is led by a standing committee that oversees regional collaboratives (working groups made up of municipal technical experts and other regional stakeholders as warranted) focused on solid waste management and stormwater management.
Board, Committee and Task Force Memberships