Charting a Course: Sustainable Water Use by Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Water has both environmental and economic value. It is essential to sustaining ecosystems and growing our economy. Ensuring our natural resources sectors – the biggest water users in Canada – both have enough water to grow, and use that water more efficiently and sustainably, is what the NRT’s new water report is all about. Read the Executive Summary

WATER USE BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES SECTORS

The natural resource sectors use and consume more water than any other sectors in the nation, accounting for approximately 86% of Canada’s water use in 2005.

According to economic forecasts, the sectors are expected to experience significant growth, ranging from 23% to 58%, by 2030. Added to other stresses, like climate change and a resultant increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, the NRT has concluded that the long-term sustainability of our water resources may be in question. And more specifically that our governance and management structures may be not be well positioned to deal with an uncertain water future, especially with respect to water quantities in this country. Read more

OUR FINDINGS

Our research shows that we can address some of the water challenges associated with a prosperous resource sector by taking steps to

• better understand the future growth of the natural resource sectors and their water requirements;
• recognize the value of water, both in terms of how much it currently costs the sectors and where water pricing may be an incentive for further water efficiency and conservation;
• ensure that water strategies and policies include a suite of new policy instruments that are readily available for implementation, including water pricing and voluntary initiative options;
• develop comprehensive water data and information systems, taking stock of both water supplies and water demands, particularly in the most vulnerable watersheds in the country; and
• promote further collaborative water governance in appropriate circumstances, such as in the need for water strategy development.

CONCLUSIONS

Water Forecasts

Historical water use by the natural resource sectors shows improved water-use efficiency for most sectors, even in the absence of water policies to motivate such efficiency gains.

Policy Instruments

Economic instruments (EIs) and voluntary initiatives have real potential for contributing to the goals of improving water conservation and water efficiency.

Water-Use Data and Information

A lack of reliable, publicly available data on water quantity has negative implications for current and future water resource management in Canada.

Collaborative Water Governance

Effective collaborative water governance requires the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Principles for Water Governance and Management

The NRT recommends that federal, provincial, and territorial governments developing new water strategies should adopt the following core principles in our report:

• Water has value — in economic, environmental, and social terms — and should be managed in trust without harm to its sustainability or that of the ecosystems in which it occurs.
• Water must be conserved and used efficiently.
• Water governance and management should be adaptive.
• Water governance and management should be collaborative.

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THE REPORT

NEWS RELEASES

November 17, 2011 – Canada needs fresh approach to water supply management for natural resource sectors
Read the News Release
Read the Media Backgrounder

COLLABORATIVE WATER GOVERNANCE

The NRT set out to explore the potential of collaborative water governance approaches and how they might assist in achieving sustainable water use by the natural resources sectors. Read more

A PRICE ON WATER USE

The NRT research shows the potential that putting a price on water has on achieving water reduction objectives, with modest impacts to most sectors and the national economy. Read more

WATER-QUANTITY DATA AND INFORMATION

Good policy development and solid management decisions require sound evidence and information. Information is derived from data, and in the context of water quantities in Canada, this data is not as comprehensive or as readily available as it should be. Read more