National Water Supply Expansion Program

The Canada-Saskatchewan Water Supply Expansion Program

Ensuring long-term access to good-quality water

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Fact sheet (PDF Format)

Frequently Asked Questions

Tier 1:
Application Form (PDF Format)
Application Guide (PDF Format)

Tier 2 & 3:
Application Form (PDF Format)
Application Guide (PDF Format)

Why do we need to expand our water supply?

Depending on the weather alone to provide enough water to support their farm operations is a chance few Canadian producers can afford to take. In fact, producers often have to deal with water shortages and drought situations as a result of Canada's variable climate. Therefore, reducing the risk of water shortages by securing a long-term water supply simply makes good business sense.

The objectives of the National Water Supply Expansion Program

The National Water Supply Expansion Program (NWSEP) is a $60-million Canada-wide initiative that will help improve the capacity of Canada's agricultural community to address water supply concerns. The NWSEP was introduced in 2002. During the program's first year of operation, $10 million was used to help develop high-priority water supply projects in drought-affected areas across Canada. In addition, a one-year National Scoping Study was funded through the NWSEP to determine agricultural areas of Canada experiencing or anticipating water shortages.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Water Supply Expansion Program

Results from the National Scoping Study are being used to help create the foundation for federal-provincial framework agreements under the NWSEP across Canada. In Saskatchewan, the agreement is the Canada-Saskatchewan Water Supply Expansion Program (CSWSEP). Through this initiative, Saskatchewan producers have access to support - both technical and financial - for the planning and development of projects that will improve their ability to develop and enhance long-term, sustainable agricultural water supplies.

Who can participate in the program?

Eligible applicants for CSWSEP assistance in Saskatchewan include:

• individual and/or incorporated groups of farmers and ranchers;
• agricultural and conservation groups;
• rural communities and municipalities;
• agri-businesses and rural enterprises;
• educational institutions; and
• provincial government agencies and Crown Corporations.

What kinds of projects are eligible?

The CSWSEP will support three types of projects:

• Tier One _ On-farm water infrastructure projects: individual on-farm water projects such as wells, dugouts, off-stream and water storage systems, and pasture pipelines.
• Tier Two - Multi-user infrastructure projects: larger scale projects which provide water to a number of water users, such as tank-loaders and regional pipelines, that will lead to growth in the agricultural sector.
• Tier Three - Strategic work projects, which include:
  • activities (e.g. regional groundwater studies, groundwater exploration or testing, regional water management planning, water supply planning and feasibility studies, information extension activities, etc.) that will serve to increase opportunities for strategic partnerships and to enhance partner and stakeholder understanding of the operational and developmental capacities as well as limitations to the water resources in their communities.

In addition, projects must comply with all of the following criteria:

• reduce the risk of future water shortages;
• target priorities identified through the National Scoping Study;
• be scientifically, technically and financially feasible;
• be environmentally acceptable;
• enhance the potential for rural economic growth; and
• result in a long-term water supply solution.

What financial assistance is available?

• For Tier One - On-farm infrastructure projects, Canada will contribute up to one-third of the eligible costs, to a maximum of $5,000 per project and up to $15,000 per applicant.
• For Tier Two - Multi-user infrastructure projects, Canada will contribute up to one-third of the eligible costs.
• For Tier Three - Strategic work projects, cost-sharing arrangements may vary and will be determined and approved on a project-by-project basis.

The Government of Canada is providing $12.5 million for projects in Saskatchewan until March 31, 2008. The Province of Saskatchewan is providing up to $7.5 million of in-kind support towards water supply expansion activities through the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

What are the application deadlines?

The CSWSEP ends on March 31, 2008. The deadline to submit applications for Tier One - On-farm infrastructure projects is March 1, 2007. The application deadline for Tier Two - Multi-user projects and Tier Three - Strategic initiatives is December 1, 2006.

How to apply

To apply for assistance under the CSWSEP, complete the Application for Assistance form and send it to any designated CSWSEP location (please see following paragraph). In addition to providing information such as name, address and relevant contact telephone numbers, applicants must also provide initial project information such as location, description, estimated start and completion dates, estimated project costs, and sources of funding.

For copies of the form, please contact or visit any Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) Office. The form is also available on the NWSEP Web site.

Where to send your application

Completed application forms for Tier One - (On-farm infrastructure projects) only can be submitted to:

Canada-Saskatchewan Water Supply Expansion Program,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
408 - 1800 Hamilton Street,
Regina, Saskatchewan,
S4P 4L2.

Completed application forms for Tier Two and Three projects only can be submitted to:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
P.O. Box 1150, Watrous,
Saskatchewan,
S0K 4T0.

Reviewing your application

A CSWSEP committee consisting of federal and provincial representatives will be established to assess all proposals based on the quality of each project plan, the degree to which project plans are incremental or complementary to other existing federal programs, and the degree to which projects provide broad-based public or environmental benefits.

All applications will be screened, reviewed and rated to ensure program funds are directed to those projects which best meet CSWSEP objectives and priorities. Before approving a proposal, the CSWSEP committee will ensure that the proposed project addresses and enforces all technical and environmental standards for water-development projects.

Note: You must receive written approval for your project prior to beginning the proposed work. Any projects started before receipt of written approval are not eligible for funding.

Once a project is approved for financial assistance, the applicant will receive a letter specifying the amount of assistance they are eligible to receive, as well as a deadline for which to complete the project. If you do not complete the project by the deadline, you may not receive any financial assistance.

For program and application information,
please contact 1-800-667-8567,
or visit the Web site