Virtual water content can mean real water problems
It’s time to confront the myth of endless water in Canada.
By 2050 Toronto could reach a population of 10 million people which would make it Canada’s first mega-city.
How can we ensure that we have enough potable water supply for everyone?
Despite the common belief that the country has a great water abundance, Canadians risk limitations to their future freshwater access, if it’s not managed properly. This can have broad environmental, economic, and political repercussions.
For example, water leakage from poor infrastructure can cost millions of dollars in losses and wastes approximately 25% of Toronto’s potable water. Additionally, ongoing funding cuts have made it difficult to ensure quality drinking water to many Canadian municipalities relying on water from the Great Lakes.
Water conservation does not stop at the tap. Every product or item that we consume uses water. This is known as the Virtual Water Content. Virtual water refers to the water used to create the goods and services that we consume and use.
For example, one cup of coffee requires 140 liters of water to produce. Given that Canadians consume the most coffee per capita of any country outside of Europe, the amount of virtual water we consume from coffee is significant.
A single almond consumes more than four liters of water to grow. About 10% of California’s water is designated for almond crops, and has gained the attention of many critics over the past decade due to the increased production demand.
Despite the fact that the majority of products consumed in Canada are imported, we must still be held accountable for the virtual water that we consume.
When we look at our daily virtual water content consumption, we can quickly see that our potable water consumption pales in comparison to our virtual water consumption.
Most people consume drastically more water than they realize.
Researchers in the Netherlands have attempted to define the total water footprint of different countries. In a 2005 report, they proved that Canada’s per capita water footprint is almost 40 percent higher than the world average. This is significant, given that most of the goods we consume are imported from water scarce regions.
Being aware of virtual water consumption is the first step towards reducing our overall water footprint. This concept is becoming widely accepted, and many tools have been created in order to raise awareness. For example, watercalculator.org allows you to estimate your water footprint, based on a variety of factors.
Being mindful of virtual water content can contribute towards a water-secure future. The next time you drink a cup of coffee, or bite into a burger, be mindful of the water that was required to make it available. And remember: every drop counts.
This article was co-written by Lassonde professor Dr. Usman Khan.
