All of Fort McMurray ordered to flee wildfire in the largest fire evacuation in Alberta's history

[suffragette]

37. Lots and a new study shows the main source there is prone to drought

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/oilsands-water-use-1.3237239

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, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

That water for oilsands mining comes mainly from northern Alberta's Athabasca River, and oilsands account for 72 per cent of estimated water use from the river.

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The study also confirmed that overall flows in the Athabasca River are declining. That's something that was already known and thought to be mainly because of the melting and shrinking of glaciers.