Water Overview
- Only 2.5% of the earth’s water is fresh water. Of that fresh water, only 0.025% is available for human use, representing just one one hundred-thousandth of the total amount on earth!
- Canadians consume more water per capita than any other country in the world, except the United States. This is certainly more than our fair share, in a world where 1.1 billion people (1 in 6) lack access to clean water.
- Bottled water consumption in Canada has dramatically increased in the last ten years, despite the fact that its production, transportation and disposal cause serious environmental damage. Worldwide, 2.5 billion kilograms of plastic are used to bottle water each year. Producing 1 kg of this plastic requires 17.5 kg of water and emits numerous dangerous pollutants. An estimated 88% of water bottles are not recycled in Canada.
- Diarrhea caused by bacteria and viruses in polluted water kills 1.8 million children each year, or one child every 3 minutes—more than AIDS or malaria.
- There are more than 90 First Nations communities in Canada living under either “Boil-Water Advisories” or "Do Not Consume" orders. Some have been living under these conditions for over ten years!
- Higher air temperatures caused by climate change are increasing and speeding up evaporation from oceans and land. They are also changing rainfall patterns, making dry areas drier, wet areas wetter and bringing more extreme weather events.
- African and Asian women walk an average of 6 kilometres each trip in order to fetch water. Up to 50% of all girls drop out of school due to the lack of safe, separate and private sanitation and washing facilities.
- Most Canadians may drink only one or two litres of water a day, but they consume about 3,000 if the water that goes into their food is taken into account.
- Toilets are the single greatest water user, representing 30% of our daily use in Canada.
