News Associations
Ground water in Canada: Who’s responsible for what?

March 6, 2020 By Ground Water Canada

Ground water knows no boundaries, but in Canada ground water is governed largely by the provinces with a few exceptions and in co-ordination with a network of federal agencies. Here is an overview of federal and provincial responsibilities and a list of provincial associations and contact information.

Federal government

Environment Canada is the lead federal department on water (including ground water), with the mandate to preserve and enhance the quality of the natural environment, including water. National Resources Canada is responsible for implementation of the federal government’s commitments to understanding the physical components of ground water systems, namely, ground water quantity and characterization, together with the assessment of ambient ground water quality.

Other federal agencies that are involved in ground water-related issues include:

Health Canada
Department of Indian and Northern Affairs with respect to ground water issues beneath First Nations land
Public Works on site development and contamination issues
Transport Canada on infrastructure development
Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, PFRA) has established a national presence with primary responsibilities on issues related to irrigation and farm water supply but has assumed a role in ground water mapping, ground water quality, well maintenance and abandonment, and funding infrastructure development as well.

Provincial governments

The regulation of ground water supply and protection falls, for the most part, under provincial jurisdiction. The provincial governments are responsible to provide the overall strategy, applicable laws and regulations, technical studies, support, funding, and public education required to manage ground water.

Within the provinces, ground water is largely managed by the provincial Ministries of Environment or their equivalents. These agencies work with various federal agencies, provincial health agencies on drinking water quality and septic systems; provincial agriculture agencies on water supply for irrigation and water quality issues; provincial municipal affairs agencies on subdivision approvals; provincial agencies related to mines and natural resources on mapping, exploration and development, and provincial transportation and public works agencies on infrastructure.

The provincial ground water agencies also work with local governments (including municipalities, conservation districts and watershed and aquifer management boards) on issues related to ground water supply and protection, together with academic institutions, ground water associations, consultants, First Nations, private citizens and industry.

In the Yukon, ground water management is undertaken by Environment Yukon’s Water Resources Branch. Similar responsibilities for ground water management have not been established in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Source: Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Review and Assessment of Canadian Groundwater Resources, Management, Current Research Mechanisms and Priorities, 2010