Prairie Provinces Water Board

Promote public awareness of the need for and benefits of interprovincial water management and the PPWB's mandate.

Contact Us

Prairie Provinces Water Board
Suite 1001 - 10th Floor, Alvin Hamilton Building
1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK S4P 2B6

Telephone: (306) 564-4462 or (306) 807-8563
Fax: (306) 780-6810  

Email: ppwb@ec.gc.ca

Frequently Asked Questions: Groundwater


Is transboundary groundwater quantity monitored and apportioned by the PPWB?

No, the Master Agreement on Apportionment has a general statement (Section 6.1) to consider groundwater matters that have implications affecting transboundary surface and groundwater. Problems can be referred to the Board who can consider recommendations. The current Agreement does not outline how groundwater should be monitored or shared across jurisdictions or how interjurisdictional issues should be addressed.

The provinces are the primary authorities to manage groundwater, and are reponsible to manage, protect and allocate groundwater within the province (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) including monitoring requirements.

The Committee on Groundwater and the Board is evaluating the need for a Schedule F that would provide a framework to address interjurisdictional groundwater issues. The questions of groundwater monitoring and apportionment or sharing of water quantity are being considered.

Do transboundary aquifers have PPWB water quality objectives?

No, the Master Agreement on Apportionment has a general statement (Section 6.1) to consider groundwater matters that have implications affecting transboundary surface and groundwater. Problems can be referred to the Board who can consider recommendations. The current Agreement does not outline how groundwater should be monitored or shared across jurisdictions or how interjurisdictional issues should be addressed.

The provinces are the primary authorities to manage groundwater, and are reponsible to manage and protect groundwater quality within the province (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba). Provincial drinking water guidelines apply to both surface and groundwater water supplies.

The Committee on Groundwater and the Board is evaluating the need for a Schedule F that would provide a framework to address interjurisdictional groundwater issues. The questions of groundwater monitoring and groundwater quality objectives or targets are being considered.


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Page last modified: 25 March 2019 15:44

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