Local Water Collaboration to Enhance Community Source Water Protection at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Ontario

Abstract

First Nations in Canada are disproportionately affected by chronic drinking water insecurity. Water security, sustainable access to adequate quantities of water of acceptable quality, can be improved through source water protection (SWP). Due to the ubiquitous nature of water, upstream and downstream users must collaborate to ensure successful SWP. The goal of this research is to understand how collaboration between water actors from Chippewas of the Thames First Nations, local conservation authorities and municipalities can support First Nations SWP. A conceptual framework for water governance was created which framed collaboration as both a process and a structure. Key findings include perspectives of water actors towards collaboration, activities that enable collaboration, and challenges that constrain water collaboration. This research defines what collaboration means to water actors, what kinds of collaborations occur, what barriers exist, and helps to inform the development of future water collaboration among multiple actors.