Province Information - Northwest Territories, Canada

Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south. It has a land area of 1,140,835 square kilometres (440,000 sq mi) and a population of 41,464 as of the 2006 census, an increase of 11.0% from 2001.
1. What provincial ministry, department or agencies are in charge of water conservation/efficiency?

The Northwest Territories Water Board. 

The Board consists of four to nine members appointed by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Northern Development including at least one nominee of each federal Minister that deal most closely with water management and at least three nominees designated by the Government Leader of the Northwest Territories. The NWT Water Board receives administrative and technical support from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) relating to the Board’s mandate.
The Board provides for the conservation, development and use of the water resources of the Northwest Territories in a manner that will provide the optimum benefit for all Canadians, and for the residents of the Territories in particular.

The Government of Northwest Territories Public Works and Service work to provide safe drinking water to NWT communities, but are not at this time involved in water conservation.

2. Does the province require preparation of drought emergency plans by water utilities or cities on any prescribed schedule?
No.
3. Does the province have a mandatory planning requirement for drinking water conservation separate from drought emergency plans?

No
Additional Information:
No.

Related Links:
4. Does the province require implementation of conservation measures as well as preparation of plans?
No

Additional Information:
No.

Related Links:
5. Does the province have the authority to approve or reject the conservation plans?

plan completeness?

No

satisfactory content?

No

Additional Information:

Related Links:
6. Does the province have minimum water efficiency standards more stringent than federal or national requirements?
No

7. Does the province regulate drinking water supplies and require conservation as part of its permitting process or water right permit?
No

The Federal Government regulates drinking water supplies through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada via the Northwest Territories Waters Act (1992). However, the NWT Water Board is mandated, through the same act, with the approval of license for water taking.

The NWT developed: Managing Drinking Water Quality in the NorthWest Territories. A Preventative Framework and Strategy and the Federal Government is working towards transferring the responsibility for water resource management to the GNWT and the Water Boards.

The Public Water Supply Regulations under the Public Health Act regulates water quality through quality standards, testing requirements, and design standards to protect human health. 

Water conservation is not required as part of the water right permitting process.


8. Does the province support water conservation under its Drinking Water or Wastewater infrastructure funding programs?

Drinking Water?

No

Waste Water?

No

Additional Information:

Canada does not have a revolving fund for infrastructure loans. Federally, the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) provides grants for up to 50% of the costs projects or up to 80% of costs in the form of below-market, low interest loans. FCM is an advocacy organization; however the Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the GMF program.

The GMF has funded conservation projects in the past that included feasibility studies of water conservation programs, water distribution system leak detection and control projects, plumbing retrofit programs, wastewater recycling and sustainable community plans involving water conservation. At this time, the funding focus for the water sector is on wastewater.

The Building Canada plan encompasses a number of infrastructure funds including provincial and municipal base funding, gas tax funds and the Building Canada fund. Over half of the funding under the Building Canada plan is provided as base funding to municipalities, and the funds are generally administered by the provinces. The Building Canada fund promotes long term funding of water infrastructure projects, including projects designed to improve conservation of water. Funding focuses on improved treatment standards that emphasize the protection of human health. The projects are required to be supported by measures that improve the management of sources of drinking water, reduce demand and improve the management of drinking water infrastructure.

All projects are cost shared, generally in equal thirds between federal/provincial/municipal basis. The Building Canada fund operates through two components: the Major Infrastructure Component (MIC), targeting larger, strategic projects of national and regional significance, and the Communities Component that focuses on projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000.

To date, funded projects have focused on centralized infrastructure as opposed to conservation efforts, with the exception of metering. Capital cost funding projects must result in a tangible capital asset. Planning costs are also eligible, which could potentially support the development of water conservation plans.


9. Does the province offer other financial assistance? Environmental grants? Rebates? Tax Exemptions?
No.
10. Does the province offer direct or indirect technical assistance to the public?
No.
11. Does the province provide provincial ET microclimate information?
No.
12. Does the province have a water conservation and efficiency strategy?
No


Additional Information:

13. Does the province have standards for alternative water sources?
No



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