Waste Not, Want Not
By Oliver M Brandes and Susanne Porter-Bopp
The POLIS Project on Ecological Governance
Fresh municipal water is critical to the well-being of urban society. Yet in Canada, a growing number of municipalities are experiencing problems with local water supplies.
Water use in Canadian cities is over twice as high as many European cities, with significant amounts (up to 20%) lost to waste and inefficiency. Further, almost none of this supply is recycled or reused.
The water we use in our toilets and washing machines is treated to costly ‘drinking water’ standards. The water from our showers and sinks could be used to wash our cars and water our lawns. High levels of urban water use have resulted in expensive supply and disposal infrastructure expansions and harmful ecological impacts in areas that are already environmentally stressed. Adopting a water conservation approach will help to reduce urban water use and wastewater production (water that has been used and cannot be reused unless treated), thus increasing the sustainability and security of our water resources.
For more information see www.waterdsm.org or contact us at water@polisproject.org
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