GLIN==> RELEASE: Ontario bill blazes new trail in water conservation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media release

May 20, 2010

 

 

Ontario bill blazes new trail in water conservation

Will the Great Lakes states keep pace?

 

Toronto - On Tuesday, the Ontario government tabled Bill 72, the Water
Opportunities and Water Conservation Act. This bill sets the legal
groundwork for Ontario to implement and regulate its commitments under the
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Resources Agreement,
going beyond the baseline conservation requirements. 

 

"When Great Lakes lawmakers shut the door to diversions, they also committed
to addressing our own wasteful water use. With this bill Ontario steps ahead
of the pack by legislating a conservation mandate," said Derek Stack,
Executive Director of Great Lakes United. "The real question is whether the
Great Lakes states will keep pace."

 

Pumping and treating water is a huge public expense that in Ontario can
reach $80 million per month. Using less water lowers operating costs,
reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and defers costly infrastructure expansion
- often in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The benefits to the
environment and ratepayers are clear.

 

If passed, The Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act will encourage
the creation and export of clean water technology, promote water
conservation, attract economic development and create jobs.

 

Whereas some Great Lakes States such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana are
focussing all discussion on voluntary conservation measures, and others such
as Illinois are likely to depend on existing regulations and programs, the
province of Ontario is legislating change with the eye to export Ontario
skills and technologies in the water conservation and treatment sector.   

 

In Michigan, an Advisory Council was set up that recommended conservation
goals and targets but the Council was disbanded before any public
consultation on conservation took place, and the effort is now stalled.
It's much the same in Minnesota.  

 

In Wisconsin the general approach is for voluntary conservation targets,
while in cases of larger withdrawals and diversions the DNR is drafting
rules on mandatory conservation measures. Waukesha has been a focal point in
the state, having long sought access to Great Lakes water. But earlier this
week Mayor Jeff Scrima balked at the $160 million price tag to purchase
water from Milwaukee, Racine or Oak Creek. Instead, the mayor indicated city
council would now consider improved treatment of local sources. 

 

Ontario is retooling its economy to save taxpayers money and garner access
to global water conservation and treatment markets valued at over $400
billion, and doubling every five to six years.

 

The province signalled its intention to pass the act in the Speech from the
Throne earlier this year. Since that time, Great Lakes United has joined
forces with other environmental and conservation groups, green businesses,
labour representatives, and citizens to form the Ontario Water Conservation
Alliance, in an effort to ensure Ontario implements the strongest
conservation plan possible. 

 

"Ontario is recognizing that when we reduce our water use, we use less
energy pumping treating, and heating water, we lower our greenhouse gas
emissions, and we reduce the burden on an overwhelmed and aging sewer system
that annually leaks billions of gallons of untreated sewage," said Stack,
adding: "Laggard states should take note.  The Ontario bill shows that the
province believes conservation is not only possible, it is profitable."

 

Visit www.conserveourwater.ca <http://www.conserveourwater.ca/>  for more
information. 

 

Contact:

Derek Stack

Executive Director

Great Lakes United

613-797-9532

drstack at glu.org

 

 

_________________________________________________________
Brent Gibson
Director, Communications
Great Lakes United
613-482-1324 x509
 <mailto:bgibson at glu.org> bgibson at glu.org |  <http://www.glu.org>
www.glu.org

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Represented by UAW Local 55

 

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