Canadians are among some of the most water-rich people globally, with access to about 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater supply and seven per cent of the world’s renewable freshwater supply.

As a result, Canadians are among the most water-greedy nations in the world, with per-capita water use in the average Canadian household coming in at more than 220 litres a day.

Canadians consume double the United Nations’ recommended consumption limit. Canada was the second largest consumer of water in 2017, dropping only to the eighth largest consumer per capita in the world in 2022.

Canada has been largely immune to the issues of water scarcity, quality and accessibility affecting billions around the globe — issues that are only growing in severity, as the Los Angeles wildfires are so vividly illustrating.

But Canada’s privileged position will not last forever. Unless properly managed, even Canada’s water supplies will eventually run out.

It’s time to challenge our wasteful ways and accept that even in Canada, water must be managed effectively to sustain economic development and societal growth under increasing climate pressures.

Water in Canada is managed primarily at the provincial and territorial level. What this means is that the exploitation of water from rivers, lakes and groundwater reservoirs is largely a provincial and territorial responsibility. In some cases, this governance is subject to agreements with other provinces or other countries.

There is no federal authority over water decision-making in Canada. This lack of oversight........

© BIV