In response to the needs of various data users.
What is the purpose of the project?
Following the publication of large water withdrawers’ data in an Excel table format (Regulation on Water Withdrawal Reporting) by the ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP), several stakeholders in the water sector have expressed the need for these data to be available in a more accessible and usable format.
This project aims to identify the needs of organizations that use or are affected by these data through a survey and to adapt their presentation based on the needs expressed by these organizations.
This approach will enable OBV SCABRIC to:
- formulate recommendations to the MELCCFP to improve the accessibility and user-friendliness of the database;
- support organizations in reducing usage conflicts;
- optimize the management of water resources.
What does the project involve?
OBV SCABRIC will develop a survey to assess organizations’ level of knowledge regarding water withdrawal reporting and identify their needs related to water withdrawal data.
As a first step, a preliminary study will be carried out with a sample of stakeholders to fine-tune and improve the survey. The second phase will involve rolling out the survey to target organizations, who will be contacted by telephone and e-mail. The data collected will be analyzed to identify common needs by type of organization. Subsequently, the Prélèvements d’eau déclarés depuis 2012 database (corrected version of February 2024) will be exploited and restructured to illustrate the data from water abstractors on an interactive map, enabling more informed decision-making.
The next step will be to cross-reference the sampler data with additional information based on the needs expressed by the organizations surveyed. For example, a map could be produced to superimpose withdrawal points and water recharge zones. The results of the spatial analyses will be made available to the public on the OBV SCABRIC website and distributed in the form of maps to participating organizations.
Finally, recommendations will be submitted to the MELCCFP, including a summary of the needs identified by the organizations and a list of anomalies detected in the database.
OBV SCABRIC is responsible for:
- Developing a survey to assess organizations’ level of knowledge regarding water withdrawals and to identify their needs;
- Conducting interviews and outreach to gather survey responses;
- Analyzing the survey results;
- Restructuring the existing database of declared water withdrawers;
- Conducting a spatial analysis of water withdrawal data and producing an interactive map;
- Supporting organizations in the use and application of the interactive map;
- Developing and distributing the water withdrawers’ map;
- Submitting recommendations to the MELCCFP.
What are the best practices in water withdrawal management?
The illustration of a portrait of water consumption enables us to assess the available resource and anticipate future needs for various agricultural, industrial and municipal activities. It is essential to adapt water abstraction practices to the reality of water resources and aquatic environments in order to ensure sustainable management.
In agriculture, the adoption of high-performance cultivation techniques makes it possible to reduce the volume of water used while preserving its quality. In times of drought, restrictive measures can be implemented on a targeted basis according to needs and priorities.
In the industrial sector, the circular economy approach provides effective solutions, such as reusing one company’s wastewater as an input for another.
In urban areas, the focus is on adopting practices that optimize water consumption and promote its responsible use.
Financial partners
OBV SCABRIC is the project leader for the dissemination of water withdrawals financed until January 2025 by the Programme de soutien régional aux enjeux de l’eau (PSREE).
- Municipalité d’Ormstown
- Municipalité de Godmanchester
- La Vigile verte
- Ville de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
- Groupe Pleine Terre
- INRS
- Ambioterra
- Comité ZIP du Haut Saint-Laurent
- CRRC
- Fondation Rivières
- OBV Yamaska
- COBAVER-VS
- COBAVAR
- ROBVQ
- PAD Saint-Rémi
- Accompagnement dans l’élaboration des plans de protection des sources d’eau potable municipale (PEPPSEP)
- Plan directeur de l’eau
- Améliorer la qualité des rejets à l’eau de surface par les entreprises qui doivent les déclarer et par celles qui souhaitent s’engager volontairement dans un processus de divulgation et d’amélioration de leurs rejets aquatiques.
- Rendre accessible et mettre à jour les données disponibles au sujet des prélèvements d’eau et de la disponibilité de l’eau.
Vue d’ensemble et historique
Il s’agit d’un premier projet visant la mise en place d’un outil d’aide à la décision transparent de planification des quantités d’eau disponible en surface et en eau souterraine. Une fois rodé, un tel outil sera utile à l’ensemble de la province de Québec.
Find out more!
Contact our project managers at projet@scabric.ca.
