Aside from the air we breathe fresh water is the single most important element in the lives of the human race. Yet there seems to be an unfair distribution of fresh water throughout the planet. Those that have it abuse it; those that don't have it, crave it.
In Southern Ontario we are blessed with an abundance of fresh water that is the envy of many regions of the world. Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, and Lake Ontario join with Lake Superior and Lake Michigan to feed the mighty St. Lawrence. And yet, as Environmental Defense Canada reports, "More than 580 billion litres of drinking water, the equivalent of 236,000 Olympic swimming pools, are being wasted every year by homeowners in the Great Lakes region of Ontario and Quebec.
Large portions of the planet only think of water in terms of consumption; as a necessity of life that is not to be taken for granted and yet here we are, wasting over ½ billion litres of fresh water merely because we do take it for granted. I'm not going to dwell on the plight of those that live in the more arid regions of the world, but it is essential that we – each and every one of us – becomes a steward of our fresh water resources.
Governments must prohibit development on natural ground water recharge systems and issue serious penalties for wetland destruction due to intention or negligence. People seldom change habits simply because it is "the right thing to do". They respond to penalties or incentives; so governments must act swiftly and decisively to ensure that one of those two options is forefront in all planning that involves the utilization of our fresh water resources. We need meaningful legislation, not "feel good" rhetoric.
Individuals that are willing to act on their own can contribute significantly towards improving the problem. According to the same study mentioned above nearly 213 billion litres of water could be saved annually if all residents living within the Great Lakes watershed installed new high efficiency toilets. And there are already grants available in many jurisdictions that make this change almost free.
Charity begins at home and only by attaining a true appreciation for the vast fresh water resources that have been placed in our charge can we fully empathize with those that thirst for the very thing we now take for granted. I urge you to do your part; protect our fresh water resources and become a true steward through your actions.
©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions
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