Problems faced by Canada’s watersheds part

2 Canadian Geography

Lester B Pearson High School

Think & Share: What activity (home or industry) in Canada uses the most

amount of water ?

Water Availability

Water Availability: volume of water in freshwater sources compared with the amount of water we are using.

Water Availability

Fact: Canada contains ~7% of the world’s renewable water. 3300 km3/yr

Global Fresh Water Resources Per Person

See Water Deficiency & Surplus on pg 85 of Atlas

Areas in Canada where water demand is almost as the

same amount as the available water

In 2010 we used: 45.08 km3/yr

Which is 1,330 m3/per Canadian per year 20 % - was used in homes69% - was used by industry12 % - was used in agriculture

Use of water in Canada

See pie chart on pg 19. Which industry withdrew the most water?

Water Use in Canada

Nuclear Plant

Coal Power For Electricity

Look on pg 22-23. Are the green (nuclear) and red (coal) dots located near water sources?)

Average percentage of Water Use in Canadian

Homes

Think & Share: Which of these home water usages do you think we can reduce? How?

Water & Agriculture

5.4% of water used by livestock drinking

92.4% of water used for irrigation (watering crops)

Areas in Canada that are irrigated

Water & Hydroelectricity

Look on pg 22-23. Where are the largest blue dots on the map?

Water Governance Since Canada shares many waterways with the United States, treaties and agreements have been made between the countries on how the water is protected and used.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is an independent & impartial group that helps resolve disputes between the two countries. It sets out water rules, monitors water quality & usage.

Future of Canada’s water quantity

• There has been talk for many years of water being diverted to the USA…what does this mean for you?

• Private companies already ship millions of liters of water out of Canada as bottled water..could this increase..what does this mean for you ?

Activity…Stand in line: Where do you stand when it comes to the selling of Canada’s water? Are you for it or against it?

Future of Canada’s water quantity

• The Council for Canadians is a non-governmental organization that has worked for many years on raising the awareness of the privatization of Canadian water & the diversion of our water to the USA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjZbrdYu7UY Maude Barlow

Future of Canada’s water quantity

Hand in your homework paragraph on your position on the export of Canadian water (see pg 487)