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Agriculture
Farmers depend on water for livestock and crop production. Agriculture was the fourth largest water user in 1996, accounting for 9% of total withdrawals. Water is withdrawn mainly for irrigation (85%) and livestock watering (15%). Irrigation is needed mainly in the drier parts of Canada, such as the southern regions of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Irrigation is also used in Ontario and the Maritimes for frost control. Since so much of the water intake evaporates, only a small fraction is returned to its source. This is a highly consumptive use.
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