| Characteristic | Canals | Rivers and/or streams |
| Rate of water flow | Low, relatively slow | High, relatively fast |
| Size description | Narrower and longer | Wider and shorter |
| Morphometric profile | Uniform and relatively shallow | Non-uniform and relatively deep |
| Temperature of the waterway | Higher, relatively warmer | Lower, relatively cooler |
| Oxygen content | Low | High |
| Turbidity of water | High | Low |
| Water quality | Poor | Good |
| Source of water | Fed by reservoirs | Fed by lower order streams and diffuse inputs; fed by rains, precipitation, snow melt and springs |