In a recent Peak article, Sunshine Coast Tourism targeted actions to reduce our ecological footprint [“Sunshine Coast Tourism begins water conservation initiative,” July 9].
I am all for their intentions but their facts are in error. The article states that “conserving water is one area, because it’s in increasingly short supply.”
In fact the life cycle of water ensures a never-ending supply. People pull water from the lakes, streams, wells and other sources, use it for many diverse purposes and then return it to the water table as runoff to join rivers and streams, or to the ocean as sewage.
The sun evaporates the seawater and returns it to the earth as rain to refill the lakes, streams, wells and other sources. It may not always go where we want it to but it is “recycled.”
Canada has the third-largest renewable freshwater supply in the world, with more than 100,000 cubic metres (m3) per person, the second-largest amount among developed countries behind only Iceland. Only one third of this supply is located in the southern portion of the country. Nonetheless, Canadians consume only a small fraction (about one per cent) of the water supply annually available.
I am not suggesting that we should abuse our water supply, but I don’t think this is an area of vital immediate concern. The rest of the article was well done. We do live in a very special place and we should take care of it.
Jim Rose, Poplar Street
Powell River
