Water oh water...

I'm doing a tonne of research on water conservation policies in Canada. As previously mentioned, Chris and I are working with two other students in our public policy class and we're delivering a presentation on March 19th about contemporary water conservation issues in Canada. Specifically we're looking at urban water issues and how municipalities can use effective policy tools for water management. There are a few things I have got to share based on the research I have done so far because water, whether we admit it or not, is an indispensable resource that we must conserve.

From an economic standpoint, water contributes about $7 to $23 billion to the Canadian economy every year. With 7% of the world's renewable water we are quite privileged to have an abundance of it but we need not take complete advantage of this. Between 1972 and 1996, Canadian water withdrawals increased almost 90%, but the population grew by just 30%. Water withdrawals for thermal power and industrial uses are mainly concentrated around the Great Lakes. Our urban population has grown by 45% in the past 30 years leading to the so called "doughnut effect" which is when growth rates around and outside municipalities exceed those of the metropolitan centres themselves. This means that suburbanization is placing pressures on the urban centres through increased and relentless demand for water from the residents. After all, 52% of water in the municipal sector is used for residential or domestic purposes. Daily human activities like toilet flushing, showering and taking baths consume a lot of water, 65% of our water use in our homes can be attributed to these three things.

Water bodies like lake fronts, rivers and streams that run through municipalities are among a city's most important forms of natural capital. In other words, water is a precious natural resource that cities take complete advantage of often neglecting important policy tools for water conservation. Water leakages from inadequate infrastructure accounts for something like 15% of municipal use. Meaning that infrastructural investments are critical for maintaining water mains, distribution pipes and sewer systems for securing both water quantity and quality.

Urban centres have numerous problems with reducing urban runoff. Urban runoff is problematic because it can contaminate groundwater and surface water. Anyway, these are just some of the stats and facts regarding urban water issues. Forthcoming blog entries will specifically discuss which policy tools should be employed to manage water systems and conserve for future generations. Water demand management is an important component of water conservation. How can we manage our water supplies efficiently while informing citizens about the merits of conservation?