Your Water in Crisis

Growing Demand

Water is not only critical for life – it’s also part of everything we use and consume. As the world’s population grows, the demand for freshwater increases. But water is a finite resource. How can we take action to conserve it?

Underwater view of ice cracking on the surface
1%

Underwater view of ice cracking on the surfaceTHE FACTS

How much freshwater can we actually access? Only 1/100th of 1% of the world’s water is readily available for human use. [Source] Link opens a new window

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A sprinkler watering the grass beside the sidewalk
329 L

A sprinkler watering the grass beside the sidewalkTHE FACTS

How much water are you using? On average, Canadians use 329 litres of water per person, per day. [Source] Link opens a new window

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Coffee beans being washed
34

Coffee beans being washedTHE FACTS

Are you using more water than you know? From plant to percolator, your morning cup of coffee takes 34 gallons of water to produce. [Source] Link opens a new window

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A sidewalk being flooded by a broken pipe
82

A sidewalk being flooded by a broken pipeTHE FACTS

Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home. [Source] Link opens a new window

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More People Need More Water

Freshwater is always in high demand, and the supply available for our use is extremely limited. At the same time, the global population continue to grow – the United Nations projects that our planet will be home to 11.2 billion people by 2100. We are also demanding and consuming more products than ever before. The world’s freshwater resources are under strain. Are you doing your part to understand and address how much you use?

Protecting freshwater health means managing pollutants, tackling climate change, and fixing broken city infrastructure. It also requires us to take a serious look at how we choose to use and consume this precious resource.

 

From simple household needs to growing food to manufacturing computers, we need freshwater for just about everything we use and consume – it’s unavoidable. As more and more people depend on freshwater, we can’t afford to maintain the status quo.

 

At an individual level, this can mean taking practical actions at home, such as:

  • Limiting your showers
  • Turning off the tap when you brush
  • Flushing only when necessary.

 

Another step would be to review the products you use and consider their water footprint. How much water did it take to produce, package, and ship these items?

 

More and more, brands and companies are waking up to water scarcity and quality challenges and making significant changes to their manufacturing processes. This is where your choices come into play. Are there similar products that make competitive and credible claims about their water use? Can you use your personal economic activity to make decisions that contribute to freshwater health?

a hydro electric dam in Quebec

Make Freshwater a Priority

Join the ripple effect and help us cultivate innovative solutions that will address demand and waste.