Water Consumption: Agricultural Water Consumption/Irrigation (Prairies)

Irrigation is the provision of water to crops beyond what is provided by local rainfall. Irrigation is a vital part of agriculture in certain areas of Canada like the southern Prairies and the interior of British Columbia. The amount of water that needs to be withdrawn for irrigation varies annually. It depends on winter precipitation, and weather and soil moisture during the growing season. Irrigation can have both positive and negative effects on the environment.