Water Withdrawal and Consumption by Sector

In 2009, approximately 38 billion (38 000 million) cubic metres of water were withdrawn from Canada’s rivers, lakes and groundwater. The thermal power generation industry withdrew the most water, followed by the municipal, manufacturing, agricultural, mining, and oil and gas sectors. The majority of the water withdrawn is circulated back into the water body from which it was taken.

In 2009, approximately 3.4 billion (3400 million) cubic metres of water were consumed, or not returned to its original source. Agriculture consumes 2.0 billion (2000 million) cubic metres, or 84 percent, of the water that it withdraws from water sources.

Total water withdrawal has declined from 41 000 million cubic metres of water in 2005 to 38 000 million cubic metres in 2009. Water consumption over the same period has decreased slightly from 3500 million cubic metres in 2005 to 3400 million cubic metres in 2009. The substantial drop in water withdrawal is related, in part, to a decrease in manufacturing production between 2005 and 2009, which resulted in the manufacturing sector withdrawing 33% and consuming 45% less water in 2009 than in 2005.

Water withdrawal by sector in Canada, 2004 to 2009

Water withdrawal by sector in Canada, 2004 to 2009

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How this indicator was calculated

Note: *For the volume of water withdrawn by the oil and gas sector, the proportions consumed and returned are not available.
Source: Environment Canada (2004, 2006, 2009) Municipal Water and Wastewater Survey. Statistics Canada (2005, 2007, 2009) CANSIM Table 153-0101 - Water use in Canada, by sector, every 2 years (cubic metres), CANSIM (database). Retrieved on 9 October, 2012.

Water is a vital resource driving Canada’s economy. Many industrial processes depend on water for cooling. Water is also used for irrigation, for cleaning, in chemical processes and for many other purposes. Municipalities distribute water for both residential and commercial use, including drinking, cooking and cleaning. Thermal power generation, which includes nuclear and coal-fuelled electricity generating stations, withdraws the most water overall. The water is used for cooling and to produce steam to drive the turbines that produce electricity.

Water consumption refers to water withdrawn but not directly returned to its original source. In producing food for Canadians, the agriculture sector consumes approximately 84% of the water it withdraws, and is the sector with the largest overall water consumption. The agriculture sectors in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan are the largest consumers of water, because, as the amount of water in this region is naturally low, irrigation systems are widely used to improve crop yields, and very little water used for irrigation is returned directly to its source.

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