Please direct all questions and comments to Dr. Christian De Kimpe Executive Summary Sustainable agriculture cannot be achieved without the wise stewardship of our water resources. This document summarizes what is currently known about the state of water resources in the agricultural areas of Canada. Canada's rural water resources Water is available in rural areas in a brief portion of its natural cycle from the atmosphere to the earth's surface and back again. Canada's variable climate and terrain results in a wide variety of moisture conditions across the country, from humid maritime zones on the west and east coasts to the semi-arid regions of interior British Columbia and the Prairies.
Rural economies rely on a combination of rainfall and snowmelt, surface water, and groundwater.
The driest regions require irrigation to maintain productive agriculture, whereas improved drainage is needed in the wettest regions to be able to cultivate fields. Groundwater in some aquifers, especially in the Prairies, is of naturally poor quality and may be unsuitable for human drinking or irrigation. To provide water when needed, surface water is often stored in reservoirs or dugouts and is sometimes diverted from one area to another. Where waters cross provincial or international boundaries, agreements are in place governing flow rates and quality. Water use Water is needed by all living organisms.