Water is a global resource with localized challenges, including availability and quality, which can vary significantly by region.
Nutrien’s water footprint is relevant in three key areas of our value chain: raw material supply, direct production and mining operations, and product use. Water is needed for raw material transportation and processing in our Potash and Phosphate mining and milling operations, and for steam generation and process cooling at our Potash and Nitrogen fertilizer production facilities.
Farmers are also highly dependent on water. By using water efficiently and protecting water quality, Nutrien and our farmer customers can support long-term operational and agricultural viability while continuing to meet the needs of a growing global population.
Read our Sustainability Report
In 2024, we achieved 3.0 million m³ reduction in freshwater use, compared to our 2018 base year at higher-risk and higher-use manufacturing facilities.
We endeavor to efficiently use and safely discharge water from our operations, and we are working to understand how to address shared water challenges in certain regions where we operate through collaborative opportunities within the agri-food value chain.
Nutrien’s operational water management activities focus on reducing freshwater use by, as an example, increasing the amount of water we recycle where technically and economically feasible, and protecting water quality in our watersheds.
Throughout Nutrien’s extensive retail network, our agronomists and field experts promote agricultural management practices that meet the needs of the farm and make sense for the region in which they operate. Nutrien is also investigating projects with value chain partners to explore ways to improve nature-related outcomes and create benefits for farmers, the value chain and our business from nature-based solutions.
Read more about our water stewardship activities in our Sustainability Report
Read the report
This watershed-based project has benefits not just for water but also for soil health, biodiversity, and climate.
Read the storyImage: The water stewardship pilot project at Corduroy Plains Reservoirs in Manitoba, June 2022. Photo courtesy of ALUS
Sustainability resources
Find high-level summaries of our sustainability targets and performance last year.
Get the details
Review progress on our sustainability-related priority topics and performance.
Read the report
Use our interactive analyst center to get key financial, operating, and sustainability information.
Access the data