Alberta oil sands water guide

Understanding an oil sands water balance

A water balance accounts for where water enters, circulates, accumulates and leaves an operation.

Water balanceAccounting

Editorial review: August 11, 2026 · Lydia M. Carstairs

System role

Inputs include approved source water, precipitation and water returning with produced fluids or ore.

How it is managed

Internal recycle flows can be much larger than new withdrawals.

Environmental context

Tailings ponds, tanks and process systems can hold large inventories.

What to keep in mind

Outputs such as evaporation, residual disposal and product/waste moisture are part of the full picture.

High-level industrial education only. Water-treatment chemistry, tailings facilities, steam systems and environmental controls are regulated site-specific systems; this site does not provide operating recipes, setpoints or procedures.