Why should Albertan's care?
Camille Dow Baker, President & CEO of the Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technology (CAWST)

Why should we care? For three very simple reasons:

1. Because water is one of the most precious resources on earth;
2. Because water resources worldwide are endangered; and
3. Because Albertans have the capability and knowledge to lead the way.

Water…an invaluable resource

There is no substitute for water, clean or dirty. It is essential to life; it is a part of every activity we conduct; and it is fundamental to poverty alleviation. Without it, a person dies in just a few days. Yet over 1.1 billion people, approximately 20% of the world’s population, walks more than a kilometer to get water.

Poor quality water has a profound effect on people’s health. Water related diseases are responsible for approximately 10% of death and disease worldwide. It is the second leading contributor of disease after malnutrition resulting in over 4,400 deaths daily, over 90% of them children.

Endangered Water Resources

Unfortunately, from time immemorial, water has also been the principal means used to transport human waste. The biggest water pollutant, by far, is microbial contamination from human and animal feces. The 2003 United Nations World Water Development Report states that “In developing countries, an estimated 90% of waste water is discharged directly into rivers and streams without treatment.”

During the last century water use grew at twice the rate of population, meanwhile, ground water aquifers are being depleted. There is increased competition for available water – irrigation uses 70% of the world’s fresh water supplies on average – but setting priorities is difficult. Globally irrigated lands constitute one sixth of the total area farmed, but account for more than one third of the global harvest.

Albertans can lead the way

There is much Albertans can learn from the experiences of those elsewhere, and there is much that Albertans can contribute to the rest of the world for the benefit of all humanity.

Albertans have not yet faced the critical water challenges faced in regions with high population densities. As the World Water Vision Report states: “There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so poorly that millions of people, and the environment, suffer badly.”

Albertans are not exempt from bad water management; it can happen. We have much we can learn. Water and sanitation practitioners in the international development arena can claim many years of delivering services in much more challenging circumstances. From their perspective:

• There must be strong public sector management of the resource (both government and non-profit);
• Management should be decentralized to the lowest possible level; and
• Communities must do more than just participate in the process. They must drive the process.

But, not only can Alberta learn, Alberta can lead by instigating the coordinated action of many.

• Over the last 25 years Calgary has reduced its per capita consumption of water, allowing total water consumption to remain fairly constant in spite of increasing populations;
• The City of Calgary has developed a draft water efficiency plan that focuses on providing people with the knowledge and skills to take responsibility for their own actions;
• Alberta has developed a strategy for water sustainability that emphasizes knowledge and research, partnerships / consensus building and water conservation.

Alberta can lead by sharing its knowledge, successful strategies and wealth with those who are less fortunate globally. One example is the non-profit Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology located in Calgary. Using knowledge-building strategies similar to those outlined above, CAWST and its clients in 43 countries have helped almost a million people have access to better water. CAWST’s gentle, collaborative approach to international development…”How can we help you?” has made it an effective ambassador for Alberta and Canada worldwide.

Alberta has much to offer the water world:

• It is well known for its volunteer spirit;
• It has one of the highest per capita concentrations of engineers and knowledge workers in North America;
• It is the centre of the Canadian energy industry with skills that transfer well to the water industry; and
• It is very wealthy.

So why should Albertans care about water? Because it is a critical issue that affects billions of people in the world today, and Albertans are well positioned to do something about it.