In developing countries, 20 to 30 litres of water per person per day are considered adequate for basic human needs. In Canada, we generally use that amount of water in one or two flushes of the toilet! The chart below lists the amount of water that is required for domestic purposes, according to the World Health Organization:. According to INAC Operating Instruction 14, each person on a community distribution system is allocated litres of water per day; each person on a truck haul system such as using a cistern is allocated litres of water per day.
The allocation for non-Aboriginal communities depends on provincial guidelines, but is probably similar to the Saskatchewan allocation of litres per person per day. That means that non-Aboriginal communities are being allocated nearly double the amount that Aboriginal communities are being given! This reduction in water consumption can easily be achieved through water conservation measures. Unfortunately, even in First Nations communities, INAC continues to fund only the cheapest toilets, which account for a large percentage of total water consumption.
There are, however, Aboriginal communities that are installing low flush toilets, which use only two to four litres of water per flush, compared with 13 to 18 litres for a standard toilet. This demonstrates that Aboriginal communities can lead the way in both water treatment and water conservation measures. Dual-flush toilets are an improvement of low-flush toilets, because they offer small flushes around two to three litres and large flushes around four to six litres , so that double-flushing is not necessary.
Dual-flush toilets have become the norm in many countries, including most of Europe, China and Australia. A common water conservation adaptation in Japan is connecting the sink drain with the toilet, so that the water that people use to wash their hands can be used next time the toilet flushes.
Since , some glaciers have lost 25 to 75 percent of their mass, and most of this decrease has occurred in the last 50 years. The eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains has shrunk to its lowest level in 10, years and what is left is becoming increasingly polluted.
In , more than Canadian industrial facilities reported discharging chemicals into water bodies. Safe drinking water is becoming scarcer, though the price of water does not reflect this scarcity.
Despite the great demand for water, prices remain low. The chart below illustrates the price per cubic metre of water in various countries around the world. Canada has, by far, the lowest price out of any of these countries. Perhaps a high price on water would encourage Canadians to use less water. Recall that, in , the average Canadian used 1, cubic metres of water. Well, the average person in Germany used only cubic metres of water in And the average person in Belgium used only cubic metres of water.
And the average person in France used only cubic metres of water. It appears that putting a price tag on water encourages people to use water more wisely.
And Canadians have demonstrated that they are willing to pay more for their water. As waterborne illnesses are becoming more common, and outbreaks are occurring in communities just like our own, sales of bottled water are increasing. In , the average Canadian bought According to the United States Natural Resources Defense Council, bottled water costs between and 10, times more than tap water.
Despite this, sales of bottled water are on the rise, because people are concerned about the quality of the water that they are drinking. Due to media coverage, Canadian citizens are aware of waterborne disease outbreaks from contaminated tap water.
However, most people do not realize that many types of bottled water originate from municipal sources, and probably have not even had additional treatment! Bottled water, in Canada, is regulated under the Federal Food and Drug Act, but there are only a handful of regulations, and most of them cover labeling requirements. For example, Toronto tap water undergoes bacterial tests each month, while bottled water is tested much less frequently. Even when bottled water is tested, it may not be safe by the time it reaches the consumer.
As bottled water sits on shelves in grocery stores and homes, the plastic bottles can leach dangerous chemicals into the water.
For information about bottled water, including the health concerns associated with plastic bottles, see the fact sheet about Bottled Water or read Banned! Top chefs just say no to serving bottled water - and yes to helping the environment , published in People Magazine.
The cost of food and water in isolated communities in the north is significantly higher than in the majority of Canada. According to INAC, in , approximately 80 percent of women in Pond Inlet reported running out of money to buy food.
Companies, such as Coca Cola, then subsidize pop, because they can make significant profits in remote northern communities, by offering pop at prices less than other beverages. In Regina, in the s, water consumption was out of control. The city initiated some conservation measures; the water consumption quickly decreased by over 25 percent and has remained stable ever since.
The following are a list of conservation tips:. When bathing, fill your bathtub only one quarter full. If you shower, try to limit your shower to approximately five minutes. Drink room temperature water, instead of running the tap until it is cold. It is actually healthier to drink room temperature water than cold water.
If you must have cold water, store drinking water in a jug in the fridge. Just remember to clean the container regularly.
If you use a dishwasher, use the short cycle and make sure that the dishwasher is full. The short cycle uses approximately 32 litres of water, as compared with 40 to 54 litres with the regular cycle. When doing laundry, set the level appropriately. Front loading washing machines use less water than top loading washing machines. If you wish to water your lawn, do it earlier in the morning, because that it when the least amount of evaporation and runoff will occur.
Or, use a cistern or rain barrel and collect rainwater to use on your lawn and garden. Plant native grass and plants, or plant shrubs and trees in your yard, as these require less water.
Oscillating sprinklers are quite inefficient and up to 50 percent of the water is wasted through evaporation. Washing machine: litres Defrosting food under the tap: litres Leaving the water running for 1. Washing your car with a hose: litres. Access to litres per person per day ensures a low impact on health In conclusion, as paradoxical as it may seem, access to water for human consumption is not always directly linked to availability.
Ferrovial step by step, drop by drop Ferrovial celebrates World Water Day today and every day , with a view to being part of the solution to these problems, focusing its investment in the community on Millennium Development Goal number 7 through its Social Infrastructure programme.
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