Water Pollution Crisis In Canada: Where Is It Worst?

Canada has the world's third-largest per-capita freshwater reserve, yet many Indigenous communities are suffering from a water crisis. Grassy Narrows, an Ontario First Nation, has lived under a 'do not consume' advisory since 2013 due to industrial pollution that contaminated their water with mercury. In British Columbia, NPS pollutants from unregulated sources such as land development and agriculture have been identified as a major cause of water pollution.

First Nations communities in Canada are suffering from a water crisis

In Grassy Narrows, an Ontario First Nation, the water has been under a 'do not consume' advisory since 2013 due to industrial pollution that contaminated their water with mercury throughout the 1960s and 70s. One research report suggested that 90% of residents experience the debilitating effects of mercury poisoning. In neighbouring Manitoba, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was cut off from its traditional source of clean drinking water in the early 1900s, and has been forced to import bottled water at an annual cost of $100,000.

In addition, one in five people in Ontario on reserves get their water from private wells, many of which are also contaminated. This water crisis is the result of years of discrimination and a lack of accountability.

The Canadian federal government has been urged to take action in four key areas: creating a Canada Water Security Centre to measure, research, and predict water problems; establishing a National Water Commission to strengthen transboundary water management; ensuring the Canada Water Act is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and addressing the issue of unregulated sources of water pollution, such as land development and agriculture, which have been identified as major causes of water pollution in certain provinces.

The water is contaminated, difficult to access, or at risk due to faulty treatment systems

Despite Canada having the world's third-largest per-capita freshwater reserve, the water that many Indigenous communities depend on is contaminated, difficult to access, or at risk due to faulty treatment systems. Grassy Narrows, an Ontario First Nation, has lived under 'do not consume' advisories since 2013 due to industrial pollution that contaminated their water with mercury throughout the 1960s and 70s. One research report suggested that 90% of residents experience the debilitating effects of mercury poisoning. In neighbouring Manitoba, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was cut off from its traditional source of clean drinking water in the early 1900s, with waterways diverted to provide water to the province's capital city. Since their advisory was put in place more than 20 years ago, the First Nation of 71 residents has been forced to import bottled water at an annual cost of $100,000. An additional one in five people in Ontario on reserves get their water from private wells, many of which are also contaminated.

The water crisis is the result of years of discrimination and a lack of accountability. The federal government can play an important role in four key areas: creating a Canada Water Security Centre that measures, researches, predicts, stores and disseminates comprehensive information about surface water, groundwater, snow and glacier flows, storage and quality, and helps communities, industry and governments anticipate and respond to water problems, including flood, drought and water pollution forecasting and prediction; creating a National Water Commission that strengthens transboundary water management, prioritises the protection of healthy, intact river basins and lakes, and guides water management and water-related climate mitigation and adaptation strategies; and strengthening reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by ensuring the Canada Water Act is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and adopting a consent-based, co-drafting approach to renewing the act in partnership with Indigenous governments.

NPS pollutants from largely unregulated sources, including land development and agriculture, are also a major cause of water pollution in Canada. By 1998, British Columbia reported that NPS was the major cause of water pollution in that province, and that these pollutants pose significant and growing threats to water resources. The main types of NPS are sediment, nutrients, toxic contaminants and chemicals, and pathogens. The major sources of NSP are urban and highway runoff, the agricultural, forestry, and mining industries, marinas and boating activities.

The water crisis is the result of years of discrimination and a lack of accountability

Despite Canada having the world's third-largest per-capita freshwater reserve, the water crisis is the result of years of discrimination and a lack of accountability. Hundreds of First Nations communities have suffered from a water crisis, with the water they depend on being contaminated, difficult to access, or at risk due to faulty treatment systems. Grassy Narrows, an Ontario First Nation, has lived under 'do not consume' advisories since 2013 due to industrial pollution that contaminated their water with mercury throughout the 1960s and 70s. One research report suggested 90% of residents experience the debilitating effects of mercury poisoning. In neighbouring Manitoba, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was cut off from its traditional source of clean drinking water in the early 1900s, with waterways diverted to provide water to the province's capital city. Since their advisory was put in place more than 20 years ago, the First Nation of 71 residents has been forced to import bottled water at an annual cost of $100,000. In Ontario, one in five people on reserves get their water from private wells, many of which are also contaminated.

The federal government can play an important role in addressing the water crisis by creating a Canada Water Security Centre to measure, research, predict, store, and disseminate comprehensive information about surface water, groundwater, snow and glacier flows, storage, and quality. This centre could help communities, industries, and governments anticipate and respond to water problems, including flood, drought, and water pollution forecasting and prediction. Additionally, strengthening reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by ensuring the Canada Water Act is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is crucial. This includes adopting a consent-based, co-drafting approach to renewing the act in partnership with Indigenous governments.

British Columbia has reported that NPS is a major cause of water pollution

Despite Canada having the world's third-largest per-capita freshwater reserve, many Indigenous communities are suffering from a water crisis. Grassy Narrows, an Ontario First Nation, has lived under 'do not consume' advisories since 2013 due to industrial pollution that contaminated their water with mercury throughout the 1960s and 70s. In neighbouring Manitoba, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was cut off from its traditional source of clean drinking water in the early 1900s, with waterways diverted to provide water to the province's capital city.

In addition, one in five people in Ontario on reserves get their water from private wells, many of which are also contaminated. This water crisis is the result of years of discrimination and a lack of accountability.

British Columbia has reported that NPS (non-point source) pollutants are a major cause of water pollution. NPS pollutants come from largely unregulated sources, including land development and agriculture. The main types of NPS are sediment, nutrients, toxic contaminants and chemicals, and pathogens. The major sources of NPS are urban and highway runoff, the agricultural, forestry, and mining industries, marinas and boating activities. For example, fertiliser runoff and agricultural wastewater are considered NPS in the agricultural industry. In urban areas, stormwater and surface runoff on highways are also considered NPS.

To address the water crisis, the federal government can play an important role in four key areas. Firstly, creating a Canada Water Security Centre that measures, researches, predicts, stores and disseminates comprehensive information about surface water, groundwater, snow and glacier flows, storage and quality. Secondly, establishing a National Water Commission that strengthens transboundary water management and prioritises the protection of healthy, intact river basins and lakes. Thirdly, strengthening reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by ensuring the Canada Water Act is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Lastly, adopting a consent-based, co-drafting approach to renewing the act in partnership with Indigenous governments.

The federal government can play a role in creating a Canada Water Security Centre to help communities anticipate and respond to water problems

Despite Canada having the world's third-largest per-capita freshwater reserve, many Indigenous communities depend on water that is contaminated, difficult to access, or at risk due to faulty treatment systems. Grassy Narrows, an Ontario First Nation, has lived under 'do not consume' advisories since 2013 due to industrial pollution that contaminated their water with mercury throughout the 1960s and 70s. One research report suggested that 90% of residents experience the debilitating effects of mercury poisoning. In neighbouring Manitoba, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was cut off from its traditional source of clean drinking water in the early 1900s, with waterways diverted to provide water to the province's capital city. Since their advisory was put in place more than 20 years ago, the First Nation of 71 residents has been forced to import bottled water at an annual cost of $100,000.

The federal government should also create a National Water Commission to strengthen transboundary water management and prioritise the protection of healthy, intact river basins and lakes. The commission would guide water management and water-related climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as strengthen reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by ensuring the Canada Water Act is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Additionally, the federal government can address water pollution by regulating sources of NPS pollutants, which include land development and agriculture. By 1998, British Columbia reported that NPS was the major cause of water pollution in the province, and these pollutants pose significant and growing threats to water resources. The main types of NPS are sediment, nutrients, toxic contaminants and chemicals, and pathogens. The major sources of NSP are urban and highway runoff, the agricultural, forestry, and mining industries, marinas and boating activities.

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