These very basic activities, never mind more technology-based activities such as using electricity or managing wastewater to keep our communities healthy, all need water. And people who understand how to manage water and water’s vulnerabilities.
Canada holds approximately 20% of the world’s freshwater supply [3] and, as of 2023, about 0.48% of the world’s population [4]. Relatively speaking, that means Canadians have a lot of freshwater to go around. However, across provinces, water is not equally distributed. For example, the province of Alberta is a water-scarce region, accounting for only 2.2% of the country’s water [5].
Water availability is ever-shifting due to changes in global climate patterns, land cover, and land uses that affect water movement, drought lengths, glacier shrinking, and population growth (for example, Alberta’s population is forecast to grow 42% between 2020 and 2046, with 80% of the population concentrated in the Edmonton-Calgary Corridor [6]. This has profound implications for water management in Alberta.).
There are many parts of the world without abundant, clean water. Parts of Africa, the Middle East, and northern India suffer from extreme water scarcity, and many other countries and regions face severe water quality challenges. The 2023 United Nations World Water Development Report notes that some 10% of the world’s population lives in counties with “high or critical stress” (p.2), and that water scarcity is becoming endemic. In Canada, we have named water our most valuable natural resource.
Earth is a closed system, meaning the amount of water on Earth will never change. Considering this, water may be considered an inexhaustible resource. However, by its nature, clean freshwater is not always in the right place at the right time. In many settled areas of Canada, the available fresh water is highly polluted and either cannot be used or requires expensive treatment before it can be used for human or animal use [7]. The 2019 World Bank Report “Quality Unknown” notes that there are water quality challenges in both rich and poor countries, and that the range of pollutants tend to increase with prosperity (p. xii).
One of Canada’s challenges is that, while Canada has about 7% of global renewable freshwater, it is not ideally located. Of that 7%, 60% [8] flows north and is not available to the 85% of Canadians living along the southern border. As a result, most Canadians are not as “water rich” as they initially appear.
Water supply and water quality pose a key challenge in our future. If there is a company, factory, development, or recreational activity that cannot access the water needed, the region will not grow.
Drought and flood mitigation, climate change and climate variability, water infrastructure management, and water quality are all water management challenges for Canada. How we managed water in the past may not work for the future.
Ensuring the long-term security and health of water is becoming ever more important. Understanding water issues is a vital step in addressing how we allocate and value our water. Providing examples of innovative techniques already in use to improve water management can inspire Canadians to be better water stewards now and into the future.
By providing factual, inclusive, accessible and unbiased information about water, the Canada WaterPortal helps Canadians better understand the bigger picture.
Understanding the value of water in our lives can promote better management, conservation, and the protection of our most precious resource.
We provide Canadian educational resources on water practices to promote conservation and sustainability. Our team crafts current and relevant content, while encouraging feedback and engagement.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.