Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/110267
TL1303-proof 2/13/13 1:16 PM Page 1 ENVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING BY SHAUNA BURNELL BA, CID, CLIA; WATERKIND CONSULTING SERVICES LTD. WHERE IS OUR FRESHWATER GOING? Where is our freshwater going? Have you ever wondered where water goes? There is so much discussion these days about water conservation, water shortages and drought and yet we live within a closed system with no way for water to escape outside of the atmosphere. So where is it all going? Let's back up just for a moment to put the question in perspective. We have made the argument for years and years that those of us in the irrigation industry need to be using irrigation water more efficiently. But it is challenging at times to make the business case for reducing water use based solely on reducing water bills when many of us live and work in areas where water costs continue to be subsidized and the cost of water may not be a major factor in the cost of doing business. As Canadians we are told that we live in a water rich region that houses approximately 20% of the world's total freshwater resources. While less than half of that (7%) is considered "renewable" (ie: able to replenish itself in a timely manner), we are still in a very enviable position compared to the rest of the world. As a result, politics and perception have created water rates across the country that most often do not reflect cost recovery for the processing and delivery of the resource. Saving a client hundreds of thousands or even millions of gallons of water per year does not always add up to significant cost savings as yet. So the reasoning for improving irrigation system efficiencies often includes a conservation aspect; sometimes as strongly weighted as that of potential cost savings. We talk about cost savings through reduced water use and less maintenance, improved quality for the plant material and of course, the marketability of implementing measures that will conserve our precious water resources. The rationale makes sense right? Always has to me. Until a client posed the question – "But how can we be running out of water? There's nowhere for it to go." In spite of my initial reaction that this comment was simply the quick witted argument from an environmental naysayer, it took only seconds to realize that this was a valid and important point and one that needed to be addressed. In order for those of us in the irrigation Continued On Page 17 ... politics and perception have created water rates across the country that most often do not reflect cost recovery for the processing and delivery of the resource. 14 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION