Threats to Water Security - Old Problems
A number of problems that threaten Canada's water resources have been known for some time. These problems continue to plague us and are even intensifying in some areas. Failure to address these problems shows the need for radical improvements in the governance of our freshwater legacy.
- Unsafe drinking water
- Inefficient use of water supplies
- Polluting lakes and rivers
- Destroying aquatic habitats
- Building dams and diversions
- Potential for bulk water exports
Unsafe Drinking Water
- It is estimated that unsafe drinking water in Canada causes 90,000 illnesses and 90 deaths every year.
- At any point in time, there are hundreds of boil water advisories in effect across Canada. In April 2008, there were 1,766 boil water advisories in communities and neighbourhoods across the country.
- As many as 75% of the water systems on Aboriginal reserve communities have significant threats to the quality and safety of drinking water.
Inefficient Use of Water Supplies
- The average Canadian uses 1,420 cubic metres per person per year in Canada. This is more than twice the average in France, and is 65 percent above the OECD average. Only the United States uses more water per capita than Canada.
- Our record is not improving – residential water use increased by 21% from 1991 to 1999.
- The average Canadian municipal water prices in 1999 are the lowest in the OECD at US$0.70/1000 Litres. Canadians pay approximately one quarter of European water prices.
Polluting Lakes and Rivers
- Cities across the country release raw sewage into Canada’s lakes and rivers. More than 90 billion litres of untreated sewage are diverted into the Great Lakes each year. The Victoria Capital Regional District releases 120 million litres of raw sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca every day. In St. John, Newfoundland, 48 per cent of the city's sewage is pumped directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Lake Winnipeg, Canada’s 6th largest lake, is experiencing serious eutrophication. A 6,000-square kilometre blue-green algae bloom appeared in the lake in the summer of 2006 - the primary causes being water pollution from nutrient runoff from animal waste, fertilizer use and urban runoff.
Destroying Aquatic Habitats
- The long-term sustainability of salmon fisheries in the Pacific is at risk due to logging, mining, urbanization and hydropower development. B.C. and the Yukon have already lost at least 142 salmon runs, and 624 are on the brink of disappearing.
- Contamination levels in fish in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region are so high that residents are warned not to eat certain species of fish.
Building Dams and Diversions
- Canada diverts more water than any other country with about 97% of the volumes diverted for power generation. This transforms river ecosystems, destroying habitats, preventing fish from migrating and displacing communities - especially First Nations.
- Dams and diversion schemes continue to be built in Canada.
Potential for Bulk Water Exports
- Fears of violating the North American Free Trade Agreement have prevented the Canadian government from enacting comprehensive legislation to ban bulk water exports.
- Export schemes continue to be concocted. See example.
