Benefits of keeping our water clean

Less than 1% of the global water supply is available as drinking water.

Water covers over 70% of our planet, and it is easy to assume that it will always be available and plentiful. However, fresh water—the water we drink and use in many ways in our daily lives—is incredibly rare. Three percent of the world’s water is freshwater, but only 1% is actually available for our use because the rest is tucked away in frozen glaciers or is otherwise unavailable.

Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving, and provide fresh water to our growing human population have been put at risk. Many rivers, lakes and underground aquifers are overused or becoming too polluted for use.

Water comes from many sources, yet as we overuse and misuse water, the availability of surface water and underground water in the Lake Winnipeg watershed is in jeopardy. The following are causes of water shortages:

Human population growth in the last 50 years has more than doubled and is accelerating. This rapid growth with accompanying development and industrialization has transformed how we use water and has increased water consumption. Today, 41% of the world’s population lives in watersheds with water quantity issues.

Climate change is also affecting the amount of water available for our use in the Lake Winnipeg watershed. As carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, weather patterns are changing, potentially leading to extreme and unpredictable weather such as droughts and floods. These changes in the weather may lead to uncertain water availability.

If water becomes polluted or otherwise unusable, all life depending on that water source will suffer. Some types of pollution and contamination are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove from water. Therefore, the prevention of such pollution is of utmost concern.

With the reduction of fresh, clean water for human use and the threat of water shortages, people will not get enough water to feed crops and livestock. Fish, wildlife and other plant life will begin to die off. This could lead to serious food shortages. The disappearance of fresh, clean water will cause ecological catastrophes on all levels, affecting all living things with dehydration, starvation and disease.

Small actions = big impacts. Visit our website to learn what you can do to protect our precious freshwater resources.