WATER SOFT PATHS: ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR CANADIANS David B. Brooks Senior Advisor – Fresh Water Friends of the Earth Canada

Hard Paths vs. Soft Paths Large, centralized sources of supply Demand is macro function of growth Waste moved to central plant Waste treated chemically Small, distributed sources of supply Demand built-up from end-uses Waste kept nearby or on-site Waste treated with bio-mimicry

Three Aspects 1.Vision: Future lies with less demand, not more supply 2.Analysis: To test feasibility of getting to that Future 3.Tools: To bring about the transition from the present

Four Distinguishing Principles Treat water as a service, not an end Make ecological security an absolute criterion Match quality of water delivered to that required by end use Plan backward - from future to present

Typical Soft Path Policies Same Tasks Done Differently –Ultra-low flow sanitary systems –Rain-fed Agriculture & Supplemental Irrigation Change Infrastructure –Use of grey water –Local use of storm water Reduce Institutional Barriers Revise Economic Development Models

Selected Results Nova Scotia could cut water use by over 50% Ontario could absorb heavy industrial growth with no new water through at least 2031 Urban water use can drop by 45% despite 50% growth in population Fully recycling Pulp & Paper Mills in Ontario cut water use by 95% Dietary changes cut water use by 1/3 to 1/2

Sustainable development depends not only on sustainable production, but also on sustainable consumption Water Soft Paths chart the course to sustainable consumption of water