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How do we manage it?
 Global
- More than 261 river and lake drainage basins, home to about 40% of the world's people, are shared between two or more countries.
The combined total catchment area covers approximately 45% of the world's land surface. One hundred and forty-five nations have territory in international river basins and 33 countries have more than 95% of their total land area in such basins.
 Canada
- The provinces have the primary responsibility for managing water within their boundaries.
- The federal government has direct responsibility for navigation and fisheries. Water on federal lands (e.g., National Parks), in the territories and on First Nation reserves falls under federal jurisdiction. The federal government also has responsibility for boundary and transboundary waters.
- Shared federal-provincial responsibilities include: agriculture; significant national water issues; and health.
- There are over 4000 municipalities in Canada, most with the responsibilities for delivery of water supply and wastewater treatment at the community level.
- Many rivers and some of the largest lakes in the world lie along, or flow across, the border between the United States and Canada. The International Joint Commission (IJC) assists governments in finding solutions to problems in these waters.
- The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty established the IJC, which has six members. Three are appointed by the President of the United States, with the advice and approval of the Senate, and three are appointed by the Governor in Council of Canada, on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Commissioners must follow the Treaty as they try to prevent or resolve disputes. They must act impartially, in reviewing problems and deciding on issues, rather than representing the views of their respective governments.
- The IJC has set up more that 20 boards, made up of experts from the United States and Canada, to help it carry out its responsibilities.
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