Water Supply

Safe, reliable water supplies and the accompanying infrastructure are necessary to sustain agriculture and the supporting rural communities. Rural communities obtain water from both surface and groundwater sources. Most farm and ranch families depend on groundwater. Increasingly, rural residents are able to take advantage of expanding rural pipeline systems that service small communities, individual farms and ranches.

The development of secure water supplies are funded under the National Water Supply Expansion Program and federal-provincial agreements. The National Water Supply Expansion Program (NWSEP) is a four-year, $60 million initiative under the APF. The NWSEP supports the Environment element of the APF through the development, enhancement and protection of vital water resources to help address water constraints in agricultural areas of Canada. Projects assisted under the NWSEP include the development of water sources such as small diameter wells, and regional systems such as pipelines and tank loading facilities. The NWSEP also supports studies, planning activities and/or undertakings that increase the knowledge base of the water resource.

This page contains links to information about groundwater, surface water and livestock watering

Groundwater

Since the Prairies have relatively few natural large supplies of surface water, unreliable streamflow, and frequent periods of drought, groundwater is the main water supply source in most rural areas. Groundwater exploration and mapping studies help to identify long-term water supplies in regions facing water supply shortages. Read more about Groundwater assessment reports in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Water supplies from groundwater can be accessed through either wells or springs. The majority of the rural population is reliant on water wells.

Once a well has been installed, there is a need to maintain and monitor the performance of the well. Extending the life of existing water sources has become a high priority for PFRA because prevention measures are less costly than developing new water supplies. In areas where wells exist, but water quality has deteriorated, water well rehabilitation may be a more economical solution than developing a new well. For more information about treatment of water well problems, visit the Sustainable Water Well Initiative (SWWI). SWWI addresses concerns of declining well yield, water quality and well lifespan.

Related information about wells

Milk River Aquifer Reclamation & Conservation Program
Water Wells That Last for Generations
Wells for rural water supplies in Saskatchewan
Spring development
Water wells: What to do before & after a flood
Water Well Abandonment and Decommissioning
Sealing of abandoned water wells
Rural Water Well Infrastructure Assessment on the Prairies

PFRA provided technical assistance to groups or individuals to help determine if there is sufficient interest to develop a pipeline and if a pipeline is an appropriate option. Clients services by rural water pipelines include farms, ranches, intensive livestock operations, rural businesses, communities, and other rural residents or enterprises.

Surface Water

Dugouts

A common type of surface water source is the farm dugout, which is a small on-farm reservoir. Dugouts that are properly planned, designed, constructed, maintained and treated can provide a dependable supply of good quality on-farm water in some areas. A workbook titled "Quality Farm Dugouts" was developed by water specialists from across the Canadian Prairies. It is designed to help you develop and maintain your dugout water system so that it meets all your farm water needs for years to come. The workbook provides a systems approach to improving both the supply and quality of water starting with the dugout watershed and continuing to its final use. Read the workbook online or order a copy of the workbook or try the online dugout sizing exercise.

For more information about maintaining and improving the quality of water in your dugout, and in-house treatment methods, visit our water quality page.

Dams and reservoirs

As water usage by Prairie residents increased, the demand for consistent water supply became more urgent. Many surface sources and shallow water aquifers failed to provide sufficient water for farms and communities. Irrigation also requires large volumes of good quality water that can not be typically provided by groundwater, and in some areas, directly from nearby streams or creeks. As a result, numerous reservoirs and irrigation projects were constructed by both federal and provincial governments. Large reservoirs (there are approximately 770 dams in the Prairie Provinces) have been constructed on virtually every major river system. These reservoirs capture spring runoff for delivery during times of drought and reduce flooding during times of peak flows. They primarily provide water supply for irrigation and other agricultural uses but are a valuable source of water for domestic consumption for rural and municipal use.

Livestock watering

Sources of water for livestock watering can consist of a single source or a number of sources in combination. Sources can be direct from naturally-occurring surface or groundwater supplies, or can be indirect through man-made delivery systems (pipelines, tank loaders, canals, dugouts). It has been shown that cattle drinking water of poor quality gain less weight, so an adequate supply of good quality water is crucial to the livestock industry.