Water Management

Water is needed to grow crops and raise livestock. Discover more about the availability and quality of water in Canada, key users, our personal impact on food production and water, best management practices in agriculture, public policy and responsibilities for water management.

What is the availability of water in Canada? Canada has an abundant quantityWater quantity is crucial for farmers to ensure safe and efficient food production. Variations in timing and quantity of precipitation can significantly impact farming operations. Water management needs to address excess water risks like spring melt and heavy rains causing delays and disruptions, as well as water shortages during droughts, leading to reduced crop yields and threats to animal health. of freshwater. We have the most renewable freshwater Freshwater is naturally occurring water that is not salty and is suitable for consumption. Freshwater bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams contain low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Freshwater is an important renewable resource, necessary for the survival of most terrestrial organism, and is required by humans for drinking and agriculture, among many other uses. 1 per person in the world, 2 accounting for about 7% of the world’s supply. 3

Ensuring water qualityWater quality: The water that humans drink is a bit different from the water that pigs and cows drink. Livestock can tolerate poor water quality better than humans. The quality of water is defined by the quantity of salts in it. Total dissolved solids (TDS), or salinity, refers to the mineral quantities in water. Concentrations of TDS in drinking water in Canada are generally below 500 mg/L. Water with a TDS of less than 1,000 mg/L is acceptable for all classes of livestock.
Agricultural practices can influence water quality through various factors like sediment, nutrients, pathogens, pesticides, and contaminants. Intensive groundwater pumping for irrigation depletes aquifers and can lead to negative environmental externalities, causing a significant economic impact on the sector and beyond. Water used in agriculture remains an important part of recommended practices for water management 4 is vital for a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector. A secure and dependable freshwater supply is needed to sustain human, plant, and animal populations, foster economic growth, and preserve thriving ecosystems.

Did you know that not all Canadians have access to drinking water?
Surprisingly, not everyone in Canada has access to clean drinking water. As of 2023, 26 First Nations communities still face the necessity of boiling water before consumption. 5 Addressing this issue In 2015, there were 170 water advisories in Canada. 5 For years, Canada has failed to provide safe drinking water to many of its indigenous communities, including North Spirit Lake, a remote reserve in northwestern Ontario. Indigenous people have fallen ill from gastrointestinal infections, respiratory illnesses and severe rashes, with some ending up hospitalized. Boiling water became a daily inconvenience, and entire communities, already struggling with chronic financial hardship, had to rely on shipments of expensive bottled water. 6 is essential to upholding equitable access to clean water for all Canadians.

Who are the main users of water?

There are many users of water, who need to be considered in the management of this limited resource. In most sectors, water is recycled during processing and production. For instance, water used in power generation is reused multiple times within thermal power plants. However, in agriculture, water is predominantly consumed by crops and livestock, with limited return to the environment.

Graph 1: Water withdrawn by sector with the rates of consumption and return to the environment. 7

Who are the different users of water?

  • AGRICULTURE – irrigation, livestock watering, crop production
  • INDUSTRIAL – manufacturing plants and factories use water for cooling, cleaning, and production, also important for foreign investment and a factor in corporate relocations
  • POWER GENERATION – hydroelectric power is a major user of water in Canada; thermal power uses water for cooling to produce steam and to drive turbines that generate electricity
  • RESIDENTIAL – households and individuals use water for drinking, cooking, cleaning
  • COMMERCIAL – businesses, offices, hotels, restaurants use water for their operations
  • MUNICIPAL – local governments user water for public water supply systems, firefighting, parks and recreation, street cleaning, and other municipal services

 

  • RECREATIONAL – swimming pools, golf courses, marinas, which are also important for tourism
  • ENVIRONMENTAL – maintaining appropriate water flows can help dilute pollutants and prevent the buildup of toxins or excessive nutrient levels that can harm aquatic ecosystems, also helping to preserve water quality for downstream users and human consumption. If we maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems, including wetlands and wildlife habitats, we also provide suitable conditions for plants and animals to breed and spawn, ensuring our biodiversity.

Did you know that the ag sector is the largest water consumer?

It takes a surprising amount of water to grow and process the food we eat daily. Agriculture accounted for 86% of the world’s total freshwater consumption in the year 2000. 8

Graph 2: water (litres) used to grow the food we eat daily, based on dietary requirements. Calculations made based on a sample diet for an active 40-year-old female weighing 132 lb (60 kg), requiring 2691.7 litres of water per day. In contrast, an active 40-year-old male weighing 187 lb (85 kg) requires 3459.3 litres of water per day to produce the food for his balanced diet. The amount of water (litres) needed to produce one kilogram of each agricultural commodity (e.g., poultry, fruit, eggs) is associated to this active woman’s daily food consumption.

Litres of water used to produce 1 kilogram of food

 

Food litres per kg Food litres per kg Food Litres per kg
Sugar crops 197 Oil cropsVegetable oils: there are large variations in water footprints for vegetable oils: corn oil 2866 liter/kg; soybean oil 4629 liter/kg; palm oil 5511 liter/kg; sunflower oil 7495 liter/kg.14 Sunflower oil has a larger water footprint than corn oil due to higher water requirements during sunflower cultivation, lower oil content in sunflower seeds compared to corn (more kg of seeds are needed to produce 1 litre of oil), potentially more water-intensive processing methods, and geographic variations in water availability and agricultural practices. 2364 Chicken meatBeef, Pork, and Chicken meat: the water footprint of meat production is influenced by three factors: feed conversion efficiencies (total weight of feed divided by net production – final weight minus starting weight), feed composition (% crude protein, % fibre), and feed origin. Efficiency improves across different farming systems (from grazing to mixed to industrial systems) due to higher caloric value and faster growth rates. Feed composition and origin also play a role, with industrial systems having larger water footprints due to a higher density of animals. Regional variations also affect the amount of water used to grow feed. Beef has the largest total water footprint, followed by pork and poultry. 9 4325
Vegetables 322 PulsesPulses: edible seeds from legume plants. For example: beans, lentils, and peas. High levels of potassium, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, and iron. Good source of vegetable protein. 4055 ButterButter: there is a large variation in water footprint between butter and milk. The process of making butter involves separating the cream from raw milk, then churning the cream until the fat molecules clump together to form butter. This results in a higher concentration of fat in butter, leading to a larger water footprint per unit of weight or volume when compared to milk. 5553
Root vegetables 387 NutsNuts: for example: almonds, hazelnuts, chestnuts, and cashews. Rich in protein content. 9063 PorkBeef, Pork, and Chicken meat: the water footprint of meat production is influenced by three factors: feed conversion efficiencies (total weight of feed divided by net production – final weight minus starting weight), feed composition (% crude protein, % fibre), and feed origin. Efficiency improves across different farming systems (from grazing to mixed to industrial systems) due to higher caloric value and faster growth rates. Feed composition and origin also play a role, with industrial systems having larger water footprints due to a higher density of animals. Regional variations also affect the amount of water used to grow feed. Beef has the largest total water footprint, followed by pork and poultry. 9 5988
FruitFruits: there is a variation in water footprints for different fruits: watermelon 259 liter/kg; apples 904 liter/kg; peaches 1003 liter/kg; pears 1014 liter/kg; grapes 2646 liter/kg.14 Grapes generally have a larger water footprint compared to watermelons due to their perennial nature, requiring more extended periods of irrigation and maintenance. On the other hand, watermelons, being an annual crop, typically require less water and have a higher yield per unit of water used. It is essential to consider regional variations and local agricultural practices, as these factors can significantly impact the water footprint of both grapes and watermelons. 962 Milk 1020 Lamb 8763
CerealsCereals: grains derived from grasses. For example: rice, wheat, rye, oats, barley, millet, and maize. 1644 Eggs 3265 BeefBeef, Pork, and Chicken meat: the water footprint of meat production is influenced by three factors: feed conversion efficiencies (total weight of feed divided by net production – final weight minus starting weight), feed composition (% crude protein, % fibre), and feed origin. Efficiency improves across different farming systems (from grazing to mixed to industrial systems) due to higher caloric value and faster growth rates. Feed composition and origin also play a role, with industrial systems having larger water footprints due to a higher density of animals. Regional variations also affect the amount of water used to grow feed. Beef has the largest total water footprint, followed by pork and poultry. 9 15415

 

Table informed by data provided by Mekonnen & Hoekstra (2010). 10

How can we use less water and preserve water quality in agriculture?

By adopting the following recommended practices, the agriculture sector can promote sustainable management of water and mitigate water-related risks.

  • Nutrient management practices, including optimized timing and subsurface placement of fertilizer, soil testing for fertilization needs, and using fertilizers with urease or nitrification inhibitors.
  • Implementing practices to reduce input runoff, such as using cover crops or reduced tillage.
  • Utilizing wetlands or reactive biofilters to trap nutrients.
  • Planting or maintaining permanent vegetation around water bodies (riparian zones).
  • Increasing soil organic matter through measures like cover crops and reduced tillage.
  • Enhancing water capture and storage and expanding sustainable irrigation and drainage systems.
  • Selecting plant and animal varieties better adapted to climate extremes. 11
Public Policy for water management in Canada

Water management in Canada is primarily the responsibility of provincial governments. 12 Provincial legislative powers include, but are not restricted to, areas of:

  • flow regulation
  • authorization of water use development
  • water supply
  • pollution control
  • thermal and hydroelectric power development. 13

The responsibility for water management is also shared by federal, provincial, and municipal governments, and in some instances, by the territories and by Aboriginal governments under self-government agreements. 14  irrigationFarmland in Alberta receives the most irrigation nationally. In 2022, Alberta accounted for over two-thirds (71%) of the total area of land that received irrigation in Canada. Only 1% of Canada’s agricultural land is irrigated. The 2000 Irrigation Districts Act established irrigation districts, which deliver water and operate irrigation works, among other tasks. The 2000 Water Act sets guidelines for water usage for agricultural purposes, including defining which agricultural users can divert water without obtaining a license. The Prairie Provinces Water Board seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts and encourage cooperation in water management. Transboundary Waters Agreements create agreements where there are none for water management between jurisdictions, such as the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement. 15 is primarily Alberta’s responsibility. 16

When there is flooding or drought, the impacts on agriculture can lead to food shortages. To secure the future of water management for food production, we need to involve agricultural producers and other water users in a collaborative and adaptive approach to policymaking.

Research that impacts decision-making for water management

The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy is committed to creating and curating research that can inform public discussions about the management of water, considering different user perspectives, negotiations about trade-offs, and enabling these discussions to be informed by good science and forecasting. Join us in conversations about long-term management strategies for our water resources.

References