At Environment Canada our business is protecting the environment, conserving the country's natural heritage and providing weather and environmental predictions to keep Canadians informed and safe.
The Department has a strong comprehensive approach to ensure clean water for all Canadians. Our plan includes investments in monitoring, science and clean-up of problem areas, as well as building partnerships to protect our fresh water. Water research includes research into water quantity and water quality.
In Canada, the responsibility for safe drinking water is shared between the provincial, territorial, federal and municipal governments. The day-to-day responsibility generally rests with the provinces and territories, while municipalities usually oversee the day to day treatment operations.
Environment Canada's National Water Research Institute generates the scientific knowledge needed to sustain Canada’s water resources and freshwater ecosystems. The guidelines for drinking water quality are developed by Health Canada.
Publication of research outputs
Environment Canada's water scientific and technical knowledge is available here for users of water science and technology, including governments, environmental regulators, policy- and decision-makers, land-use planners, researchers and industry. Water science and policy publications, including assessment reports, research outputs, newsletters and listings of publications by NWRI staff in peer-reviewed journals can be freely downloaded.