Because we are dependent on water for almost all our needs, we have to protect and maintain freshwater resources. We need clean water to use in our homes for things like washing, cleaning and cooking. We also need water for transportation, generating electricity and manufacturing goods. For example, it takes 2,700 litres of water to make a cotton t-shirt. A lot of that water comes from growing thirsty cotton plants and dying the garments in production.
Water is our most precious resource
Did you know that less than 1% of the water on earth is available for us to use? Many communities in Manitoba are still without a reliable source of clean water. Also, there are approximately one billion people in the world who do not have safe drinking water.
Pollutants aren't always easy to remove from the water, which affects the quality of our drinking water for humans, plants and animals. We can all make a difference in the quality of our water.
Here's what you can do
A good rule of thumb is to treat water as if you HAD to drink it. This means:
Not being wasteful with water
Never put used oil, hazardous chemicals, medications or other products down any drains or in drainage ditches
Use certified environmentally friendly cleaning products
Learn more ways to take action and do what matters to keep our water safe and available for us, others, and the ecosystem.