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Preface
Water is the lifeblood of the environment. Some very simple organisms can survive without air, but none can grow without water. Although Canada has more water than most nations, changes in water availability in terms of quantity and quality greatly affect Canadian life. The impacts of droughts have been most severe in the Prairies, while those of flooding have been experienced more profoundly in British Columbia, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. In recent years, Great Lakes levels have fluctuated to such a degree that daily surveillance has been necessary. Apart from natural phenomena, drinking water has become a major Canadian concern. For domestic use, 30% of all Canadians rely on groundwater, which, if contaminated, poses difficult cleanup problems. In the North, the emergence of toxics is a major issue. And all of Canada could be affected by climate change and its effects on water.
A Primer on Fresh Water was put together to answer a wide range of questions. They are grouped to focus on different aspects of water: its physical characteristics; its availability both above and below ground; the uses we make of it; and how we share and manage it. The Primer also contains some practical advice on what we, as individuals, can do to help conserve this precious resource for our use and for that of future generations.
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