STATE OF  THE GREAT LAKES 2003
   CAN WE DRINK THE WATER?
              Water Use
The Issue: The conservation of Great Lakes water
supplies for industry, agriculture, power generation, and
domestic uses.

•  The Great Lakes currently supply drinking
   water to millions of Great Lakes basin residents.
   Their continued use as a plentiful source of
   drinking water is dependent both on water
   quality and quantity for decades to come.

•  Great Lakes water use is projected to increase
   over time as a result of diversions, population
   growth, and climate change.

•  Water use and future water supplies are
   becoming more of an issue in the region;
   however, water metering and other
   conservation tactics have not been
   comprehensively applied throughout the
   basin's municipalities.

•  Water use analyses help to evaluate our current
   consumption practices and how this affects
   future drinking water supplies.
The Indicator - SOGL 2003
This indicator examines water use (per capita) in the
Great Lakes basin to measure, indirectly, the demand
for water resources and the amount of wastewater
generated.

The Assessment
Canadian average per capita water use (in
municipalities greater than 1000 people) decreased
by 15 percent from 1983 to 1999 as a result of water
saving technologies.  U.S. average per capita use
increased approximately 10 percent from 1985 to
1995, possibly resulting from  an increase in public
use.

Approximately 95 percent of Great Lakes water used
in both countries is used for hydroelectric power.
Other significant water uses are illustrated in Figure
1 below.
             The Province of Ontario did not submit "water use data in 1987
            IPublic WaterSy stem s (PW S) CDDomestic CH I r rig a tion •Livestock •Industrial •FossilFuel CUThermoelectric CH Other
  Figure 1. Great Lakes water, other surface water and groundwater use (excluding hydroelectric water uses).

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 CAN WE DRINK THE WATER?
The Outlook
Water scarcity is an issue projected to be of global
importance over the next 50 years. Water use in
the Great Lakes will continue to increase
especially for thermoelectric power, agriculture,
and residential uses. Some Great Lakes waters
are currently diverted for use outside the basin.
Projections indicate that there will be increasing
demand for water diversions in years to come.

There is a need for Great Lakes municipalities to
implement water conservation strategies to
reduce excessive water use in the basin. The use
of water meters and different pricing are possible
scenarios that may encourage water conservation
and maintain an ample quantity for future
generations.

For More Information...
Visit the web site, www.binational.net, to access
the State of the Great Lakes 2003 and other
references reporting on the state of the Great
Lakes.
                                                                                          12/03

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