How do we use it?

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Global

• Half of the world's population still suffers with water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and Romans.
  
  
• Per capita residential use rates in North America (about 350 litres per person per day) and Europe (about 200 litres per person per day) are high compared to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is 10 to 20 litres per person per day.

Water service prices per cubic metre (m³)

Country	Year	Price (in US dollars)
Mexico	2001	$0.25
Italy	2001	$0.60
Canada	1999	$0.77
Czech Republic	2000	$0.99
Japan	2001	$1.19
United States	2001	$1.40
Australia	2000	$1.49
UK (England and Wales)	2001	$2.39
Finland	2002	$2.73
Denmark	2001	$4.10
Norway	2002	$5.10

• At least 1.5 billion people depend on groundwater as their sole source of drinking water.

Canada

• In 1999, 26.5 million Canadians (87%) received central water services and 23.5 million (77%) were connected to central sanitation services. These included Canadians in rural areas but which are served centrally. There were approximately 4.0 million Canadians (13%) in rural areas with self-supply water services and 7.05 million Canadians (23%) with individual sanitation services (essentially all on-site septic tanks and drainage fields).
  
  
• Almost 9 million, or 30.3% of all Canadians, rely of groundwater for domestic use. Approximately two-thirds, or 5 million, of these users live in rural areas.

What you see may not be what you get [472 Kb]

• In 1996, over 40% of Canada's municipal water systems were reliant on groundwater.
  
  
• In 1996, the average daily flow of drinking water was 14.3 million m³, with 2.7 million m³ (18%) coming from groundwater.
  
  
• In 2001, the average daily freshwater domestic use per capita was 335 litres, of which 35% is for bathing, 25% for laundry and cleaning, 30% for toilet flushing, and 10% for cooking and drinking.

Canada's watery lifestyle [133 Kb]

Water uses

Use	Amount
Toilet flush	15-19 L
Shower (5 minute)	100 L
Tub bath	60 L
Hand washing (with tap running)	8 L
Teeth brushing (with tap running)	10 L
Outdoor watering	35 L/min
Automatic dishwashing	40 L
Dishwashing by hand	35 L
Washing machine	225 L

• In 1999, total Canadian household use was estimated at 7.9 billion litres per day, enough to fill 91 000 rail tank cars.
  
  
• In 1999, Canadians charged prices based on the volume of water used had a consumption level of 269 litres per person per day. Those paying flat rates used 457 litres per person per day, or 70% more water.
  
  
• In 1999, 56% of the municipal population had water meters.
  
  
• In 1999, over 37% of residential customers were charged a flat rate for water, providing no conservation incentive. In 1999, almost 50% of all rate types applied (commercial and residential) were the flat rate type.
  
  
• According to latest figures, 42% of households reported using low flow showerheads and 15% reported using water-conserving toilets.
  
  
• In 1993, Ontario became the first province to introduce plumbing codes that require all toilets, showerheads, and faucets in new buildings to be water conserving.

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