GLIN==> Water Opportunities Act Must Set Targets for Ontario's Wasteful Water Use

FOR IMMEDITE RELEASE

Media release

March 8, 2010

 

 

Great Lakes United | Canadian Environmental Law Association | Ecojustice |
POLIS Water Sustainability Project

 

 

Water Opportunities Act Must Set Targets for Ontario's Wasteful Water Use

Ontario is poised to become a global leader in water innovation, but it must
remember to address water use and conservation at home 

 

TORONTO - With the announcement of a Water Opportunities Act in today's
Speech from the Throne, the Ontario government is setting the province on a
path to become a global leader in water technology. At the same time, the
environmental community is urging the government to include commitments to
address Ontario's own water use challenges.

 

"As Ontario looks to come out of this recession, water conservation can save
taxpayers and municipalities hundreds of millions of dollars in avoided
expansions, and focus efforts on fixing an aging sewage and water delivery
system," said Derek Stack, Executive Director of Great Lakes United. "By
setting clear targets, Ontario will ensure an abundance of clean water for
tomorrow and become a North American leader in water conservation
technologies."

 

Ontarians are among the most wasteful water users in the world.
Understanding this, the groups are recommending several strategies to make
Ontario a leader in water conservation:

 

*	Implement water efficiency standards;
*	Launch an efficiency labelling program for water fixtures;
*	Transform Ontario government facilities into model water
conservation and efficiency buildings;
*	Link water conservation to infrastructure grants;
*	Appoint a Chief Water Conservation Officer;
*	Require water conservation plans for all Permit to Take Water
holders; and,
*	Engage Ontarians with a message of water conservation.

 

"The province blazed a new energy path with the Green Energy Act. With
today's announcement Ontario has made it clear that solving our energy
problems go hand-in-hand with addressing our water use problems," said
Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law
Association.

 

"Ignoring water conservation is flushing taxpayer dollars down the drain,"
said Anastasia Lintner, Staff Lawyer with Ecojustice. "Municipalities spend
extraordinary amounts of money pumping and treating water. When we use less
water, municipalities use less energy, avoid infrastructure upgrades, and
taxpayers save more money."

 

For the Region of Peel, the annual cost of pumping and treating water in
2006 was estimated at $25 million. Meanwhile, the City of Toronto's water
division uses more electricity than the Toronto Transit Commission, and five
times the energy consumed by all the city's streetlights and traffic
signals. In total, 550 million kWh are used every year by Toronto to treat
its water.

 

At the same time, the province is facing a multi-billion dollar
infrastructure debt. Already, $25 billion is needed over the next 15 years
to repair and update existing water infrastructure. Through water
conservation, the province can avoid spending on new, expensive, and
energy-intensive pipes and pumps and focus on fixing what's already in
place. 

 

This is not a new direction. For several years the government has been
consulting with Ontario's environmental community on a progressive
conservation program. When Ontario put a stop to the potential for the
export and diversion of Great Lakes water to the Southern U.S. and other
parts of the world, it also committed to curbing its own wasteful water use.
With this effort, Ontario can position itself to lead the world by example.

 

"We commend the Premier of Ontario for identifying the importance of
conserving water. Investing in water efficiency and conservation today, will
protect freshwater ecosystems, foster new innovative opportunities, and save
energy - all at a fraction of the cost of expanding water infrastructure,"
said Carol Maas, Innovation and Technology Director for the POLIS Water
Sustainability Project. 

 

Contacts:

 

Derek Stack | Executive Director | Great Lakes United

613-797-9532 | drstack at glu.org

 

Theresa McClenaghan | Executive Director | Canadian Environmental Law
Association

416-960-2284 x219 | theresa at cela.ca

 

Anastasia Lintner |Staff Lawyer | Ecojustice

416-368-7533 x30 | alintner at ecojustice.ca

 

Carol Maas Innovation and Technology Director | POLIS Water Sustainability
Project

519.749.0247 | c.maas at polisproject.org

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