Responsibility for providing water and wastewater services to First Nations is shared among Band Councils, Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).  INAC provides funding to assist with the provision of water and wastewater services within reserve communities.

INAC also helps to protect water quality in Canada's North and is responsible for the management of water resources in and around Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. 

What Information is Available?

In this section, read the National Assessment of Water and Wastewater Systems in First Nation Communities. You can also find an archive of announcements made regarding First Nation water issues, progress reports on the Government of Canada's plan of action for drinking water in First Nation communities, as well as standards and guidelines for water works and drinking water and a list of links to additional water related resources outside of INAC.

You may also be interested in:

• Fact Sheet - Water Quality
  
  
• The Expert Panel on Safe Drinking Water for First Nations 
  
  
• Archived: Former National Assessment Summary Report