Protecting Our Water: A Collective Challenge for Municipalities and Industries

Water is a resource that is often taken for granted. It is accessible simply by turning on the faucet and disappears just as easily once used. Yet even in Canada, a country with one of the world’s largest freshwater reserves, water scarcity issues are becoming increasingly common. To ensure equitable and sustainable access, new measures must be implemented. It is essential to understand the current situation to grasp why these actions are necessary and how we can take action collectively.

What Is the State of Our Water Resources?

Although Canada holds 7% of the world’s renewable freshwater reserves, the availability of this water varies greatly from one region to another.¹ This perception that water is an infinite resource is reflected in our habits. According to the 2023 annual report on drinking water usage, Canadians consume approximately 220 L/person/day.² This high consumption, combined with the depletion of our water resources, is leading to growing problems with water availability.

In fact, low-flow periods – when stream levels reach their lowest point—are becoming increasingly frequent. Projections from the Hydroclimatic Atlas of Southern Québec show that low-flow periods will intensify by 15% to 25% by 2050.³

In Ontario, although the Great Lakes Basin contains a large amount of freshwater, a more localized analysis shows that at least 50% of the subwatersheds have high and moderate risk potential.⁴ Risks include low water levels, groundwater stress, degrading water quality, as well as access issues and conflicts among different users.

Climate change is exacerbating the problem by indirectly affecting our hydrological systems. To illustrate, rising sea levels are one of the major consequences of climate change. However, unlike the ocean, the flow rates of the St. Lawrence River are decreasing, and the imbalance is causing a shift in the salinity transition zone, potentially jeopardizing access to drinking water for more than 200,000 residents.⁵ This is just one example among many that shows the growing pressure on our water resources. It is therefore necessary to develop better modelling and forecasting systems to better prepare for these climatic and hydrological variations.

Water Consumption Challenges in the Municipal Sector

While water availability is declining, the demand for clean water continues to rise. This is leading to an increasing inability to meet residential and industrial needs that are supplied through aqueducts or wells. This is why several municipalities and environmental organizations in Quebec are calling for a review by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) to develop a concrete management plan.

In fact, the municipal sector is the largest consumer of water, accounting for about two-thirds of water withdrawals.⁶ However, the installation of water meters is still not very widespread in Quebec and faces a great deal of opposition.

In contrast, Ontarians have long since adopted this system and have succeeded in reducing their average consumption to about 184 L/person/day.² This 25% difference from the Quebec average of 245 L/person/day shows that this measure is truly effective in raising public awareness of the value of water.² In fact, even though many people believe that water is free, the costs of treating water and maintaining the infrastructure are covered by municipal taxes that are paid by every citizen. A water meter would allow everyone to pay for their actual consumption, thereby encouraging those who make an effort to conserve water.

Another major problem is the condition of our distribution systems. In Canada, more than one-sixth of the total volume of drinking water withdrawn is lost due to leaks.⁷ In Montreal, the situation is even worse. About 30% of the produced drinking water never reaches water taps due to leaks in the system.⁸ A waste of such large volumes of water shows that, beyond the efforts of individual citizens, it is essential to invest in upgrading the infrastructure.

Optimizing Water Use in the Industrial Sector

The industrial sector, for its part, accounts for about one-third of annual water withdrawals.⁶ In smaller municipalities, a single industry that is connected to the water supply system can place significant pressure on water availability, which can create tensions among stakeholders. However, simple process optimizations can have a considerable impact on water consumption in plants where the quantities used are very high.

Regular monitoring of water usage helps optimize and reduce consumption at the source. This allows for better planning of water use and thus reduces the strain on the water system.

All industries have certain water needs, but the required water quality varies from one use to another. It is therefore possible to reuse water from one process in another, or even between two industries, to reduce water consumption. In addition, the implementation of advanced treatment systems can enable the reuse of wastewater for non-potable applications such as cooling towers or for cleaning floors and trucks.

Water should no longer be viewed as an infinite resource, and industries have a key role to play in this transition. At Aquasan, we help companies optimize their water treatment processes. Whether it involves adjusting the use of certain coagulants or reducing the amount of dilution water required for polymers, targeted interventions can significantly reduce clean water consumption. Would you like to reduce your water demand while maintaining the efficiency of your facilities? Contact us – we’d be happy to find a solution that is tailored to your needs.

Sources:

1. Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2025). Water Use in Canada: Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/eccc/documents/pdf/cesindicators/water-use-in-canada/2025/Water-Use-in-Canada-en-2025.pdf
2. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (2025). Rapport sur l’usage de l’eau potable au Québec – Données 2023. https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/affaires-municipales/publications/infrastructures/strategie_quebecoise_eau_potable/RAP_usage_eau_potable_2023.pdf (In French only)
3. (2025). Résumé des connaissances : Disponibilité de l’eau et changements climatiques. https://www.ouranos.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/projet-publication-qclimeau-resume-connaissances-dispo-eau-CC-nov25.pdf (In French only)
4. Sandhu, G., Weber, O., Wood, M. O., Rus, H. A., & Thistlethwaite, J. (2023). An interdisciplinary water risk assessment framework for sustainable water management in Ontario, Canada. Water Resources Research, 59(5), . https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032959
5. Communauté métropolitaine de Québec (CMQ) and Ouranos. (2019). Étude de vulnérabilité des sources d’eau potable au fleuve des villes de Québec et de Lévis en regard de la salinité – Rapport révisé de l’étape 1.1 portant sur l’identification des points de salinité et . https://www.ouranos.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/proj-201419-ge-rapport_etape1-1.pdf
6. (In French only)
7. Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. (2024). Prélèvements d’eau au Québec : Un sommaire des déclarations reçues en 2023. Québec : Gouvernement du Québec. https://b01fae16-75b1-4772-a017-29954f448739.usrfiles.com/ugd/b01fae_5a9aa586b2d64051acc724ab57c1de53.pdf (In French only)
8. Statistics Canada. (2021). Table 38-10-0271-01 Potable water use by sector and average daily use. https://doi.org/10.25318/3810027101-eng
9. Montréal pour tous. (2023, 3 octobre). Le besoin d’avoir une gestion responsable de l’eau à Montréal [Mémoire]. Consultation publique : L’avenir de l’eau de Montréal, Commission sur l’eau, l’environnement, le développement durable et les grands parcs. Avec la participation de Gilles Thériault et Pierre Pagé. https://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/COMMISSIONS_PERM_V2_FR/MEDIA/DOCUMENTS/M%C9MOIRE_MONTR%C9ALPOURTOUS_AVENIREAUMONTR%C9AL_%2020231003.PDF (In French only)