McClelland Minute - April 19, 2009

What about Water?

Everyone knows that water is essential for life; in fact, in our climate we need at least two litres per day just to survive.  The human body is 70% water; it makes up 83% of our blood and 25% of the bone structure.  Why is it then that we seem to spend more time worrying about diminishing oil supplies, radioactive contamination, or air quality?  I think the citizens of the Midwest need to start discussing freshwater supplies, and how we will make sure there is enough for present and future generations.

Freshwater rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers account for only 2.5% of global water supply; the balance is saltwater seas and oceans.  Of that, approximately one-third of freshwater is located underground.  It is a sobering thought that all the water that will ever be available to us is what we have now, whether it be in a gas, liquid, or solid form.

As I was researching this article I came across facts provided by Canadian governments that illustrate just how much we abuse this finite resource.  Toilets use approximately one-quarter of the municipal water supply, up to 40% more than necessary.  An estimated 14% to 30% of water is lost due to leaks caused by an aging underground infrastructure.  Did you know it takes at least 10 litres of water to produce one litre of gasoline?

As population and living standards increase, so does the demand for fresh water.  The good news is that the hydrologic cycle is a giant distillation system employing atmosphere, soil, lakes and oceans.  The not so good news is the mounting pressure created by industry, agriculture, and urban sprawl to serve more people living in our country.  During the last 100 years alone, Canada has lost 60% of its wetlands, Mother Nature’s sponge.

Our governments seem quick to promote consultations on proposed industry development like nuclear power plants, but very little is said about the impact of other industrial projects on freshwater supply.  It would be very interesting to know how much freshwater it takes to induce one barrel of heavy crude from the ground in a SAG-D (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) site.  We have a number of them in the Midwest, plus several more on the drawing board.  More disclosure is also warranted on the source of that water.

I would also like to know why both local and provincial governments stubbornly refuse to develop plans for a regional potable water distribution system to serve both urban and rural stakeholders.  While in most communities and farms in the Midwest you can safely drink what comes out of the tap, there are way too many locations where if you did so once, you wouldn’t likely do it again. 

So what do many homeowners do? They install water softeners and household reverse osmosis systems or buy water in plastic jugs from a local supplier, the processing of which in turn puts more waste water and minerals into what is likely an overloaded sewage system.  As Realtors we often hear of hot water tanks and copper lines corroding more rapidly than is considered normal; in some cases, having to be replaced every 3 years.  Makes you wonder what it is doing to the health of families, doesn’t it?

 Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster.  For more helpful hints on buying or selling real estate visit www.vernmcclelland.com

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