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Water resources

Geol. 270
Resources of the Earth Water
The Hydrological Cycle
Clean water
UNESCO 2003
Resources of the Earth Water
Water usage
In 1999, Canadians used an average of 343 litres of water
each day.
10% of our home water supply is used as drinking water.
65% of indoor home water use occurs in our bathrooms.
Toilets are the single greatest water user in Canada
Resources of the Earth Water
In 1999, Canadians used an average of 343 litres of water
each day
Is water too cheap?
Resources of the Earth Water
Is water too cheap?
Resources of the Earth Water
Is water too cheap?
Resources of the Earth Water
Who uses what, where and why
data from Environment Canada & Stats Canada (latest data too)
The five main water users in Canada
USA
Water in Canada is derived from streams, reservoirs and aquifers
(ground water)
Resources of the Earth Water
Who uses what, where and why
data from Environment Canada & Stats Canada (latest data too)
The five main water users in Canada
In the thermal power Generation sector, water recirculation took a
notable jump from 17% of intake in 1991 to 41% of intake in 1996
Resources of the Earth Water
Who uses what, where and why
data from Environment Canada & Stats Canada (latest data too)
Manufacturing
Automobile manufacture (in Canada) uses 120 000 litres+ of water
80 000 to produce 1 tonne of steel and
40 000 more for the actual fabrication process
Resources of the Earth Water
Who uses what, where and why
data from Environment Canada & Stats Canada (latest data too)
Agriculture
Irrigation is by far the greatest user of water in Canada's agric. sector
Specific usage depends upon crop type:
USA
Resources of the Earth Water
Who uses what, where and why
data from Environment Canada & Stats Canada (latest data too)
Water use in Canada
Resources of the Earth Water
Who uses what, where and why
data from Environment Canada & Stats Canada (latest data too)
Water use in Canada
Resources of the Earth Water
Water use elsewhere
Water use by sector
Source: UNESCO
Resources of the Earth Water
Water use elsewhere
Water diversion
Source: UNESCO
Resources of the Earth Water
Water use elsewhere
Water diversion
3 boats wrecks sit in a field, in
what used to be a deep water port
of the Aral Sea, Kazakstan.
Senegal
Images from UNESCO
Resources of the Earth Water
Water use elsewhere
Water consumption
Source: UNESCO
Resources of the Earth Water
Water use elsewhere
Water availability
Source: UNESCO
Resources of the Earth Water
Water use: at issue
Desalination
Diversion
Trading of water
Resources of the Earth Water
Surface water & stream
Very few surface streams in N. America either retain their
original or natural discharge or coursedue to
diversion
withdrawal
loss of wet lands or headwaters
channelisation
Resources of the Earth Water
Water Usage
USA (and minor parts of W. Canada) are water poor,
compared to east and rest of Canada
where will the water come from ?
Resources of the Earth Water
Diversion
1. The I ssue
Canada is attempting to ban its massive exports of fresh water to its neighbors including the
United States. Canada believes that water will become the most essential environmental source in
the next century. The United States on the other hand, has always been refusing this ban that may
harm other nations who lack such a vital source. Canada, as it holds a fifth of the worlds fresh
water supply, fears to face a huge environmental problem if it carries on shipping a huge quantities
of water to external nations.
2. Description:
Canada possesses 20% of the earths fresh water. Half of this percentage is renewable and can be
accessed from rivers and lakes. While the rest of it remains untouchable in the form of snow in the
north. Water plays an important role in both Canada and the United states. Both Canadians and
Americans are considered to be the worlds most consumers of water. They use 100 gallons per
day per person which are mostly lost in toilets and bath drains. Moreover, their usage of drinking
fresh water is three times higher than that in Europe. Water also plays an essential role in
agriculture in which irrigation is considered to be the biggest user of water. It accounts for 80% of
water consumption.
A clear example of the ban was when the province of British Columbia imposed a complete halt on
water shiploads to California. Sun Belt Water Inc. of Santa Barbara who used to have a permit to
ship water in the mid 1990s to California was deprived from having this permit. Thus, Sun Belt now
seeks compensation of $220 million from Canadian governments and filed a complaint under
chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Another example was when the Environment Minister announced in May 14,1998 that the water-
taking permit given to Ontario-based company was cancelled. That permit allowed the company to
transfer water from Lake Superior to Asia. Furthermore, Ontario was stopped from selling three
billion liters of Lake Superior water to a customer in Asia.

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