Overview of the Water One Window
The Water One Window is a source of information designed to streamline access to federal freshwater resources, enhance program awareness, and support federal stewardship of water in Canada. Developed by the Canada Water Agency, in partnership with federal departments and agencies, it addresses the challenge raised by Canadians in finding freshwater information spread across federal websites.
Information is organized into eight key themes:
- Freshwater funding and partnership opportunities
- Freshwater quantity
- Freshwater quality and ecosystem health
- Freshwater stewardship with Indigenous partners
- Climate change impacts on fresh water
- Freshwater science, data, and reporting
- Cooperation on shared waters
- Freshwater legislation and policy
with support by our federal partners:
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Leads federal efforts in monitoring drought conditions in Canada and advances sustainable water management for the agriculture sector through scientific research, programming, and collaboration, including support for on-farm technologies and practices.
- Canada Water Agency: Provides leadership, federal collaboration, and coordination with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to address national and regional transboundary freshwater challenges and opportunities.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Promotes sustainability of freshwater ecosystems and aquaculture management, working in collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to conserve fish and fish habitat, protect aquatic species at risk, combat aquatic invasive species, maintain freshwater harbours, and conduct research to advance freshwater science.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada: Conserves and protects wildlife and wildlife habitat (including freshwater and marine habitats); collects, interprets, and disseminates standardized weather, climate, and water resource data, information, tools and supporting user guidance; conducts water quality and quantity science, water monitoring and surveillance and modelling; produces forecasts and climate projections; and administers pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act.
- Impact Assessment Agency of Canada: Carries out assessments of major projects to support sustainable development, protect the environment, and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples.
- Indigenous Services Canada: Supports First Nations in the delivery of safe drinking water and wastewater services by providing funding, technical and policy guidance, and working in partnership with First Nations to help protect public health, including support for drinking water quality monitoring and safety.
- Natural Resources Canada: Collects, analyzes, interprets, and disseminates foundational freshwater and groundwater data, and provides science-based advice for water management and policy development; these include interactions between forests and freshwater, climate change impact on freshwater quantity and quality, geoscience activities that support the protection and sustainable use of surface water and groundwater, and assessment of main aquifer systems and watersheds in Canada.
- Parks Canada: Working with Indigenous partners and communities, Parks Canda protects and presents nationally significant examples of natural and cultural heritage (including freshwater ecosystems and historic waterways) in Canada and fosters public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.
- Statistics Canada: Provides reliable and objective statistical data on water—including water resources, water use, and wastewater, water infrastructure and freshwater ecosystems—to inform decision-making.
- Transport Canada: Regulates shipping and navigation to ensure the safety of transportation systems and the protection of freshwater ecosystems and habitats.
The Water One Window will continue to expand to other government departments, agencies and partners, ensuring easy navigation.
Contact us
If the links provided do not address your needs, assistance is available.
Please contact us at Water-Eau@cwa-aec.gc.ca, and we will help connect you with the appropriate information to answer your questions.