Within the veal industry, the calves are commonly only provided with milk replacer and are not given access to water. This study compared the growth performance, behaviour, physiology, forestomach development, abomasal lesions, and meat quality of calves that were only given milk replacer with calves that were given access to water as well as fed milk replacer. Throughout the study, the calves would consume all the water provided, which indicates that the provision of milk replacer alone does not meet the thirst requirements of the calf. The growth performance and health status of the calves were not impacted by the provision of water. There was not a difference between calves given and not given water in terms of feces consistency, animal cleanliness, forestomach development, rumen hairballs and meat color and quality. However, when the calves were provided water, nonnutritive sucking was reduced throughout the entire study, which indicates the water may be a form of environmental enrichment. Calves given water did not refuse feed as frequently. Even though providing calves with water in addition to milk replacer did not have an impact on productivity, there were benefits in terms of welfare, such as reduced nonnutritive oral behaviours and reduced stress.