Four Common Myths
About Drinking Water
"Watershed Connections" brochure from
Conservation Ontario
Learn more about source water protection
Myth number 1:
We have lots of water in Ontario - so
there's nothing to worry about.
FACT:
We are surrounded by water so we think we
have an unlimited supply. But, in reality, we don't. The
drinking water we take from lakes, rivers, streams and underground
aquifers must always be replenished through an endless cycle of
evaporation, rain and percolation. no new water is produced - it's
just recycled year after year. When we take water from our sources
faster than they can replenish themselves, we face shortages and
experience water bans. If we continue to take more than nature can
supply, we will face serious, long-term water supply problems.
Almost one third of municipalities with water supply systems reported
water shortages over the past ten years and this number is increasing.
Pressures on our water supplies include drought, equipment problems and
increased usage due to growing populations. Some municipalities
are predicting serious water shortages by 2016. We need to be
aware of how much water we are taking out of the system right now, so we
have enough for later.
Myth number 2:
Water is a natural resource so it should be free.
FACT:
Water is free. But it costs a lot to pump, store, move,
treat and take away wastewater for the almost nine million Ontario
residents who rely on municipal systems. Ontario residents who use
municipal water pay an average of $16 per month for this service, which
studies show is not enough to cover the costs of operating, repairing,
upgrading or expanding water treatment systems for growing populations.
Furthermore, a 2005 report prepared by a provincially-appointed Water
Strategy Expert Panel said Ontario's water and wastewater systems need
$34 billion in new investments over the next 15 years, along with
serious changes in the way they are organized and governed or public
health could be at risk. Considering the average cell phone bill
is $53 per month and the average cable TV bill is $45 per month, what is
a fair price for water?
Myth number 3:
We are already careful about conserving water.
FACT:
because we think we have an abundance of fresh water and pay so little
for it, most of us aren't aware of how much we actually use or how we
can make better use of it. In fact, Canadians consume the second
highest amount of water in the world and pay the least for it. We
use more than twice as much water per person, per day than people in
European nations, like France, and yet we pay a quarter of the price.
Compared to Germany, we pay almost one seventh the price. The good
news is that we can easily cut our water use in half by repairing
leaking faucets, retrofitting toilets and showerheads, using efficient
appliances and making a few small changes in our habits, such as washing
our cars and watering our lawns less, and washing only full loads of
laundry and dishes. Most of us won't even notice the difference,
but our water systems will.
Myth
number 4: We don't
have to protect sources of water, since we already treat water and make
it clean enough to drink.
FACT:
Although we treat water through municipal systems, it's still important
to protect it at the source. Water treatment systems do not remove
all contaminants from water, particularly chemicals. We also have
to consider the more than two million residents in Ontario who do not
have access to municipal water and who draw their drinking water
directly from untreated ground water sources. While it's cheaper
to protect water in the first place, rather than having to clean it up
later, it's not just a matter of money.. Sometimes contamination
problems can develop that are impossible to correct, which means some
water supply sources have to be shut down. Water treatment is just
one aspect of a "multi-barrier approach" used to protect drinking water.
Other aspects include preventing contamination of source water, using
adequate distribution systems, testing water and training water
managers.
Natural Champions
Conservation
Authorities are local, science-based environmental organizations that
manage Ontario's natural resources on a watershed basis together with
landowners, government and other partners.
www.conservation-ontario.on.ca
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