Think Canada. Think Water. Myth?

Posted by Linda Schuyler 
on Mar 01, 2014
 
 
 
“Think Canada, and you think water. More than two million lakes and one-fifth of the world's fresh water lie within our borders. Now forget all that. The number you need to remember is 6.5 percent. That's the amount of the world's renewable fresh water we have at our disposal (not an awful lot, considering our land mass). The supply is only 2.6 percent in southern Canada. Use more, and we risk gnawing away at our water capital — draining our aquifers and lakes rather than living sustainably and using the water that precipitation replenishes each year. So Canada's water wealth? A myth. That's why it's critical for us to safeguard our waterways, to ensure they're managed well. In the face of climate change, a global water crisis, rising energy demands and urbanization, our water resources don't just become more valuable. They desperately need our help.”      - Canadian Geographic
 
 
 
According to Canadian Geographic, there are a number of things that you can do to improve your watershed. Here are 5 ways to love your watershed:
  1. Stick a paddle in it:
    Hop into a canoe and paddle down two or three rivers in your watershed. Visit their headwaters. Brave their rapids. Don hip waders and go angling in their riffles. The more you see and experience firsthand, the better you’ll understand the interconnectivity of your watershed.
     
  2. Clean up its act:
    Roll up your sleeves and pull on your boots. Donate your brains and brawn to a “riverkeeper” group and help with stream cleanups, riparian restoration efforts, public engagement, species counts or creek monitoring.
     
  3. Tap into your own water supply:
    Most tap water in Canada is safe to drink. Not only is bottled water redundant, it is water-intensive to produce (not to mention expensive). Three litres of water are used to produce one litre of bottled water.
     
  4. Revive the hydrological cycle:
    Reduce or eliminate the herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer you use in your backyard. Get rid of that thirsty green carpet and plant a rain garden, or use drought-tolerant plants. Use rain barrels to reduce storm-water runoff. 
     5. Our waterways don't have a voice of their own. Join a local water advocacy group. Write a letter to your elected officials or newspaper editor to build awareness. If your watershed lacks a watchdog organization, start one.