Conserving water in Canada will require new collaborative government measures as consumption swells by as much as 96 per cent in some industries — which means the country may have to charge farms and oilsands more for its use, a new report says.

While there are signs of improvement in water-use efficiency in most economic sectors — and that is expected to hold steady to 2030 — there are some "regional challenges," especially in areas where agriculture, and oil and gas are involved, says the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.

"While a shortage of water is not an imminent issue facing Canada, the overall demand by the natural resource sectors is increasing," said round-table vice-chair Mark Parent.

"This represents an opportunity for Canada to get ahead of a future problem, and proactively take steps toward sustainable water governance and management."

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