Frequently Asked Questions: Groundwater

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 responsible 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.