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.
HEALTHY WATERS, A PROSPEROUS FUTURE
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Economic Opportunity
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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
Running Through Our Fingers
Running Through Our Fingers is an attempt by two of Canada’s best environmental economists and an award-winning journalist to revisit economist Andrew Muller’s 1985 analysis of the value of water’s contribution to the Canadian economy. This paper is the first of a series of research papers that Blue Economy Initiative will be releasing. Over the coming months, we’ll be working to advance that ‘informed public discussion’ about water and the economy that Muller sought 25 years ago.
READ MORE ►VISIT THE LIBRARY ►
News
Blue Economy Initiative Announced
The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, Canadian Water Network and RBC Blue Water Project team up for "Blue Economy Initiative"
Multimedia
Blue Economy Initiative video: Water
Steering Committee
