National Water Supply Expansion Program

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.

A national program, the NWSEP will focus on assisting Canadian producers to develop and enhance long-term agricultural water supplies. The following information provides a brief outline of eligible applicants, the three tiers of eligible projects with examples of each, program assistance and partner responsibilities, and application deadlines and procedures. Please click on the province-specific information presented below for more detailed information on the NWSEP in your province.

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Program Objectives

The objective of the National Water Supply Expansion Program is to provide assistance to the agricultural community across Canada to help reduce the risk of future water shortages, and to meet the everyday growing needs of a vibrant Canadian agricultural sector, through the planning and development of secure, healthy and reliable water resources.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for NWSEP assistance 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 governments, agencies and crown corporations.

Eligible Projects

Three tiers of projects are eligible for assistance under the NWSEP:

(Tier 1) On-farm water infrastructure – Smaller scale water development projects, such as dugouts/ponds, off-stream storage, wells and pasture pipelines, which provide secure, safe and reliable water supplies for agricultural use.

(Tier 2) Multi-user water supplies – Larger scale infrastructure projects, such as tank loaders and regional water pipelines, which provide a long-term agricultural water source for a number of water users and promote economic growth in an area or region.

(Tier 3) Strategic initiatives – Studies, planning activities and/or undertakings that increase the knowledge base of the water resource. Strategic work includes the development of information and technologies or the dissemination of information.Activities include, but are not limited to, regional groundwater studies, regional groundwater exploration and testing, regional water management and water supply planning, feasibility studies, and information extension activities.

Each NWSEP project must comply with the following criteria:

• reduce the risk of future water shortages;
• meet a provincial water development priority;
• 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.

Federal financial assistance

Tier 1 On-Farm Infrastructure - Through the NWSEP, Canada will provide a federal contribution of up to one third (1/3) of eligible project costs to a maximum of $5,000 per project. The program maximum is $15,000 per applicant. Some provinces have elected to contribute additional funding towards Tier 1 projects - please click on the province-specific information presented below for details on NWSEP in your province.

Tier 2 Multi-User Infrastructure - For Tier 2 projects, Canada will provide a federal contribution of up to one-third (1/3) of eligible costs.

Tier 3 Strategic Work - Cost sharing arrangements and will be determined and approved on a project-by-project basis.

Program Deadlines

Find out more about the NWSEP program in the following regions:

All projects will be reviewed and rated to ensure NWSEP resources are directed to those projects which best meet the program objectives.

To facilitate the rating process, an application deadline may be enforced in each province. The actual date of the application deadline will be determined through federal-provincial negotiations. Refer to the province-specific information presented below for the application deadline in your province.

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