Issue #43 Vol. 35, December 1st, 2009
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Opinions

Water shortages: taking our water for granted

By Trevor Dore

With the recent record rainfall we have been experiencing in the Lower Mainland, it is hard to believe that fresh water can be a scarce resource. Every winter in the Lower Mainland, it rains for days and sometimes even months on end. While some might not think so, we truly are fortunate to live in a location of the world that provides us with an abundance of fresh water in the fall, winter and spring.

Throughout most of Metro Vancouver, this rainwater fills the watershed reservoirs that provide the water that is essential to our lifestyle. All of the water that comes from these watersheds is treated and rendered drinkable. The water is then pumped to our hoses, sinks, showers and toilets. Turn on a tap or flush the toilet and the water is there. One can turn the tap on and leave it on with absolutely no repercussions—the water continues to flow.

In many parts of the world, the story is much different. People spend large parts of their day walking to fetch water. They don’t have the luxury of turning on a tap, taking a hot shower or flushing the toilet. The closest we come to water shortages in B.C. (and don’t get me wrong, we don’t come anywhere close to this) is in the summertime, when we have lawn sprinkling regulations.

In the summer months when the sun is shining and the rain clouds are distant memories, the watershed reservoirs that were once overflowing with water start to drain down. We continue to use the fresh water from the reservoirs to clean our clothes and flush our toilets. We inundate our lawns, wash our cars and water our gardens. After all, you have got to have a lush green lawn and a shiny car. The only real difference during the summer is you can only sprinkle on certain days.

In arid parts of the world, water conservation is built in. Drinkable water is used for drinking. Rainwater is collected in rain barrels to use for watering lawns and gardens. Houses are built with grey water systems. The systems allow water to be reused and recycled before it is flushed down the drain. In these places, water is scarce and the infrastructure and residents lifestyles reflect this.

A lot can be done on the individual level to conserve water without a lifestyle compromise. Shorter showers and making sure that the dishwasher and washing machine are full before running a cycle are two simple things that can be done. During the summer, a rain barrel can be used to water the grass and garden. Now, I am not necessarily saying “If it’s yellow let it mellow,” or completely abstain from showering, but perhaps, we need to think a bit about how we use our water.

Often we take things that come to us in abundance for granted—it’s natural. It is hard to believe that fresh water is a scarce resource when it rains for days on end. However, it is good to remember that this water is essential to life.

So while day after day of rainy weather may seem like a drag, remember, it could be a lot worse. It is this water that allows us to live way we do and provides us with the beautiful environment that we call home.