Canada's resource extraction landscape, which includes mining and energy sectors, is being transformed by rapidly changing market conditions—from new liquefied natural gas export pathways and shifting U.S. trade dynamics to increasing global demand for critical minerals. As a result, oil, gas, and mining operators are reevaluating how they compete, invest, and secure long-term access to growth markets in Asia, North America, and Europe. As Canadian producers and the government look to diversify beyond traditional U.S. corridors and rebuild domestic mineral supply chains, water is emerging as a strategic variable woven directly into decisions regarding permitting, infrastructure, and export resilience.

Against this backdrop, effective water management is becoming a core determinant of industrial performance. Operators are facing rising expectations to cut water withdrawals, enhance recycling efforts, and strengthen environmental safeguards, especially as climate volatility and decarbonization policies impose stricter regulations on heavy industry. Through 2030, companies that modernize their water systems—implementing closed-loop processes, digital monitoring, and advanced treatment technologies—will be better positioned to navigate regulatory pressures, mitigate operational risks, and seize opportunities in the rapidly growing liquefied natural gas and critical minerals markets.

This Insight Report provides an analysis of Canada’s market for heavy industry water management, including market drivers and forecasts, provincial dynamics, and the strategies required to shape the future of water for heavy industry.