From permits to policy: insights from an analysis of Ontario’s open water permit data (1960–2022)

This paper provides an analysis of Ontario’s Permits to Take Water (PTTW) from 1960 to 2022, a period marked by profound shifts in environmental policy, technological advancement, economic development and growing ecological awareness. Through a detailed examination of data obtained from the Government of Ontario’s open data portal, this study investigates the distribution, issuance, and trends related to water permits across the province, exploring the evolution of water use and relevant policy insights. Our findings reveal significant sectoral and regional variations in permitted water use, influenced by diverse water users, various water use activities, and evolving permit policies. Over time, the province has seen an increase in the number, distribution, and sources of water permits, highlighting potential implications for water resource sustainability, policy and management. By employing geospatial and statistical analysis, this research identifies critical trends in water permit allocations offering insights into the complex interplay between policy, permitting, water use and sustainability. These findings offer insights and guidance for policymakers, including identifying high-demand areas for proactive water policy and management, improving permit data, categorization and reporting practices, and aligning water use monitoring with sustainability objectives. This paper aims to bridge the gap from permits to policy, presenting evidence-based policy insights and recommendations aimed at refining open data and the permitting process to enhance water resource management. The article also presents a framework that can be used to analyze open water permit data in other jurisdictions across Canada.