This text is part of the special section Municipalities
Helping municipalities to better plan the use of blue gold in the face of climate change is the main theme of the conference. Before the tap runs dry. Plan water management to avoid crisis. The event will take place on May 24 at the 2024 Conference of the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ).
Hosted by Katerine-Lune Rollet, the conference which will be held in front of more than a hundred people will welcome the general director of Ouranos, Alain Bourque, as a panelist. This event aims to better equip municipal officials in planning the management of blue gold and its protection. “We want to interact with the participants in order to make them think about these issues that already exist in our territory,” explains Anne-Sophie Doré, legal advisor in the land use planning advisory service at the UMQ.
While many mistakenly believe that Quebec does not lack water, several municipalities are currently facing shortages. Mme Doré recalls the publicized case of Saint-Lin–Laurentides, but emphasizes that the situation also occurs elsewhere in Quebec. “We see it in Montérégie, it’s a phenomenon that is increasing,” she illustrates.
But all of southern Quebec, including Estrie, remains vulnerable to water supply problems, adds Mr. Bourque.
Find the source of water shortages
Sound water management first requires having a global portrait of the surrounding resources. “It is not necessarily obvious when making decisions to know what quantities are available and what the quality is,” explains M.me Golden. A situation that will vary depending on where the municipality is located in Quebec.
Existing infrastructure also poses challenges, adds Mr. Bourque, particularly in the face of climate change. “Often, we have built factories to treat water, which can produce a certain volume per hour or per day and supply the population. And naturally, the less water there is in the river, the more problems there are,” he illustrates. These challenges therefore force several municipalities to restrict the use of blue gold during the hot season, among other things for watering. “Municipalities, in May and June, are regularly obliged to pass such directives, knowing that the months to come will be particularly difficult for water supply. »
Climate change with many consequences
Droughts, floods, early spring melts… In addition to creating meteorological disasters, climate change also brings its share of challenges for water management by municipalities. “In recent years we have seen fairly significant episodes of drought which can have an impact on groundwater”, illustrates Mme Golden.
For his part, Mr. Bourque points out the fact that, despite abundant rain, a territory can experience a water shortage. “People forget the invisible force that is evaporation,” he emphasizes. And the higher the mercury rises, the more the atmosphere can store an enormous amount of water vapor before generating precipitation.” A growing trend in southern Quebec, especially during the hot season, influencing water reserves downward.
“With climate change, we expect that, everywhere in southern Quebec, there will be less and less water available. And this, particularly at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn under the effect of increasing heat,” predicts the climatologist.
Possible solutions
To demonstrate greater resilience in the face of the climate crisis, municipalities will need to take action to meet demand. Mr. Bourque cites the example of certain farmers who already accumulate reserves in the spring in order to have enough water for their crops at the end of the hot season.
Quebec would also benefit from learning from Ontario, which reviewed its watershed management methods after the Walkerton tragedy. In 2000, seven people died there and 2,300 fell ill after ingesting contaminated drinking water. “It’s often when a disaster happens that we decide to develop best practices to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. But in Quebec, we should learn lessons from this event,” believes Mr. Bourque.
In order to better plan and manage the quantities of water available to their citizens, municipalities must become aware of the situation on their territory. Urban planners and scientists must work together to create tools that take the overall picture into account. “We will have to adapt more scientific elements in urban planning terms. But already, the concern will be present when we organize land use planning. We are going to take a step in longer-term planning for the use of the resource,” predicts M.me Golden.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.