|
Mark Bennett, Bow River Basin Council
"Water is the most basic of all resources. Civilizations grew
or withered depending on its availability."
Dr. Nathan W. Snyder, Ralph M. Parsons Engineering
Water is the most basic of resources and one of the most abundant. Trouble
is, almost all of it is seawater. Only about 3% of the earth’s water is
fresh. Sadly in some places what fresh water there is, is sometimes despoiled
to the point of being, for all practical purposes, nearly useless. Either that
or it isn’t exactly where we would like it to be. Mankind has always been
drawn to water. Funny thing is that no sooner does he get to the water than
he wants to move it somewhere else where there isn’t any.
"Man is a complex being; he makes deserts bloom and lakes
die."
Gil Stern
Why is water so important? There has always been water. If there is no water
then there is no life. Without water there wouldn’t be people. When it
comes to considering water, the old adage “familiarity breeds contempt”
probably couldn’t ring more true. Here in Alberta, it has always been
around us; so much so that we often take this essential element for granted.
The first thing that many of us do when we get up is have a shower (water),
then we go to our breakfast (none of which could be on the table without water),
and of course there is the obligatory coffee (more water). We pack our lunches
(same as breakfast…available only because of water). We hop into public
transit or our clean cars (water) and drive to work. We enjoy our jobs, especially
the workplace. A bright airy atrium, lots of lush plants and a bubbling water
wall. On a nice day we will take our lunch outside, find a quiet spot by a fountain
or maybe a short stroll along the river. After work it is a nice dinner (no
different in its origins than our two previous meals). After dinner it is off
to the local soccer pitch to watch our children. Imagine what that field might
be like without irrigation. Afterwards its home again, and the last thing we
do before retiring for the night is brush our teeth. You can’t say that
water isn’t important to our way of life. It is our way of life. It is
even woven into our spirituality.
One of the biggest issues we face in the Bow River Watershed is getting its
inhabitants to realize just how important water is. For the better part of the
last century most people haven’t had to think, or indeed, worry about
water. Turn on a tap and good water comes out. How could it be any other way?
We must impress upon everybody who lives in this basin that it is now time to
become much more aware of this incredibly important resource. Everyone has to
get involved in preserving the quality of our water. Everyone has to become
involved in making sure that our collective demands don’t simply outstrip
the supply we are granted. We have to deeply appreciate that there is no substitute
for water. We can have alternate energy sources but we can’t have alternate
water sources. For all intents and purposes all the water that has ever been
or ever will be, is right now.
We have to build this awareness without hyperbole, threats, or bravado. It
must be done cooperatively. Everyone needs to realize it’s not about trying
to figure out who is wearing the white hats and who is wearing the black ones.
While we easily recognize our own needs and often endow them with high priority,
we must also recognize the needs of others. It is especially important to guarantee
the needs of generations yet to come.
We need to develop a comprehensive and integrated plan for how we are to inventory,
monitor, distribute, manage, protect, and ensure the sustainability of our cherished
water resources. We need to define and understand exactly what sustainability
is. To be effective this plan will have to involve all key stakeholders and
decision makers. Discussions will be interesting and challenging. At the same
time that we are developing the plan we must also shape behaviours. Behaviours
and planned requirements are going to have to converge at some future point
in time. If we can’t make that happen then the plan will not work. If
we are not successful, there won’t be enough water. We will transition
slowly from a life where water is at the centre of many of our pleasures, to
a life where the lack of water is at the centre of many of our hardships.
"When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water"
Benjamin Franklin
|
