HEALTHY WATERS, A PROSPEROUS FUTURE

Economic Opportunity

Water conservation is the most economical source of new water,
amounting to one-quarter the cost of new treatment plants, pipes and pumps.

Green infrastructure is also generally more cost effective than traditional

stormwater management practices.
Economic Opportunity

A reduction in Ontario’s water demand
of 10% in 10 years using only cost-effective measures
would save 121 million cubic metres a year and
save $500 million dollars in avoided infrastructure costs.
Economic Opportunity

The global market size of the water industry is estimated to be US$360 billion;
it is forecasted to rise to US$1.6 trillion in 10 years.
Economic Risks

Canada’s existing municipal water infrastructure deficit
is estimated to be $31 billion.
Economic Risks

Water damage now accounts for $1.7 billion in insurance claims per year
and has surpassed fire as the largest cost to Canada’s insurance industry.
Economic Risks

Of Canada’s 10 costliest natural disasters, six were droughts.
The drought of 2001– 2002 wrenched $6.6 billion
(in 2011 dollars) from the economy.
Economic Benefits

Services flowing annually from boreal wetlands in the Mackenzie Basin
are worth $370.5 billion a year ($418.8 billion in 2011 dollars)
Economic Benefits

The Great Lakes basin supports over 50% of Canada’s
manufacturing output, 25% of Canada’s agriculture
and over $350 billion annually in Ontario–U.S. Trade.
Economic Benefits

The value of the commercial fishery of the Pacific Region in 2007
was more than $230 million.

Blue Economy Initiative Report

Canada as the Water Solutions Country: Defining the Opportunities

This paper is designed to frame and advance a national conversation around Canada’s opportunities to become a global leader in water sustainability and innovation. It identifies Canada’s current water strengths and capabilities, as well as gaps that need to be filled, in order to engender innovative solutions to global...

News

Does Canada have what it takes to become a global water leader?

If the answer is yes, what do we do next?

The Blue Economy Initiative released the paper, Canada as the Water Solutions Country: Defining the Opportunities, during Canadian Water Network's national conference Connecting...READ MORE ►