The drinking water dilemma

When abundance hides crisis

The truth about drinking water

It’s a well-known fact that not all water is fit to drink. South Africa, for example, has been experiencing a historic drinking water crisis affecting millions of its inhabitants since 2020, despite its enviable position at the junction of two oceans. They have access to water, so why this crisis? The country’s situation cannot be reduced to a single problem. In addition to the operating system, inadequate infrastructure and drought, South Africa, despite its geographical position, has limited access to “potable” water.

In fact, there are two types of naturally occurring water on Earth: freshwater and saltwater (seawater). Freshwater is defined as having a salinity of less than 1 g/L. Most freshwater is found on land. It is estimated that only 2.5% of the earth’s water is fresh and therefore fit for human consumption.

Reference: Allô Prof

Why can't humans drink salt water?

For land mammals like us, consuming salt water leads to dehydration, making it unfit for consumption.

Reference: Le Figaro Nautisme

Quebec and Canada have the advantage over the rest of the world when it comes to freshwater availability.

Quebec alone has 3% of the planet’s renewable freshwater reserves, for a population of just 0.11% of the world’s total. Canada, on the other hand, has 7% of the world’s renewable freshwater reserves, for a population representing just 0.48% of the global total.

The two graphs below illustrate the relationship between freshwater availability and population:

References – Water availability:

References – Availability of renewable fresh water (Continued) :

On the strength of this abundant resource, which we never think we’ll run out of, Quebecers find themselves in the unenviable position of being one of the world’s biggest consumers of drinking water, and the^2nd largest in the West, behind the United States.

References – Water consumption:

Note: The consumption values referred to in the table above represent the average daily residential use only per capita of the population actually served.

The dilemma of freshwater abundance and the real need to protect this essential resource:

It’s easy for Quebecers and Canadians to assume that they have an almost inexhaustible supply of healthy freshwater. After all, we’ve often been told that Canada possesses some 20% of the world’s freshwater resources. However, less than half of this water – 3% for Quebec and around 7% for Canada – is “renewable”. Most of this is fossil water found in lakes, aquifers and glaciers.

So, Canada (including Quebec) still seems to be well supplied with water. However, more than half of the country’s freshwater drains northwards into the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay. As a result, this water is inaccessible to 85% of Canada’s population, who live in the southern part of the country, close to the Canada-US border. The remaining reserves, though still abundant, are heavily used and often overexploited.

Government of Canada – Water: Frequently Asked Questions-How much fresh water does Canada have?

Poor management of this resource and its over-consumption are becoming problematic, and it is urgent to find solutions to the issues threatening our drinking water.

C.I.EAU’s mission is to promote the protection and responsible use of water. This primary mission includes two secondary missions: to explain the technical aspects related to the production and distribution of drinking water, to the responsible use of this precious resource, and to the ecological disposal of wastewater in urban areas.

Help us educate present and future generations by giving generously.