Posted at 1:00 p.m.
The role of the private sector
Excellent editorial on raising awareness of water-related issues in Quebec. Thank you for highlighting this critical issue that will affect our economy, our health services, our environment and our society at large. It is important to note that the residential and domestic sector only consumes barely 10% of drinking water. The two major users are the agricultural sector (50%) and the industrial sector (40%). Of course, the government can, and must, play a role in the conservation and protection of our water as a natural and collective asset, but the private sector must be a catalyst to create and develop the best technological solutions in order to combat the challenges of climate change. climatic. Through our new investment fund in the water sector, we are creating a positive and lasting impact for the benefit of our Quebec waters.
Simon Olivier, founder of the BleuImpact Investment Fund
Let’s pay for water
It is time, as in many places in the world, to pay for the water used in Quebec. Having a water meter and a monthly bill would be the thing to do in our cities.
Stephane Brosseau, Longueuil
What a waste!
This morning we were in the small town of Medicine Hat, Alberta. What did we see from our hotel window and everywhere on our way out of town? Dozens of embankments that were generously watered mechanically! The day before, it had been 37 degrees! No, but what a waste, landfills! I was outraged. Your editorial challenged me, it is necessary to denounce.
Sylvie Poulin
A counter to think twice
I completely agree with your editorial. Moreover, I propose that cities install water meters in every home. The citizens of Calgary have meters, and I can assure you that before wasting this very important resource for our survival, we think twice before using it to wash our cars (every day for some) or to sprinkle his driveway with asphalt. There is an urgent need to see to it very quickly. Just look at what is happening in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
Sonia Gagnon
Are we looking in the right place?
Inground pools use so much water? Mine, once half emptied in the fall, fills up again in the spring with the snow accumulated during the winter. For the rest of the summer, an addition of a few centimeters two or three times is enough, which for a full season is not much. Moreover, at the age of 65, I still haven’t seen anyone watering his asphalt on a hot day. It is common ? Not in my town. Finally, not making a distinction between cities supplied by artesian wells and those supplied by the river always surprises me; the two cases do not seem comparable to me. In light of the total negligence of the authorities with regard to the maintenance of the infrastructures which would have made it possible to avoid gigantic losses, making the citizen feel guilty who washes his car once a week is ridiculous.
Claude Roulx
Require royalties
We should prevent the multinationals from exporting our water and demand serious royalties. Even if it meant an increase in the price of bottled water.
Alain Boudreau
Discouraging
Why are all these laws to protect our water taking so long to come to fruition? As if we had eternity ahead of us. How disheartening…
Jocelyne Plamondon, Quebec
Take control of our wealth
I am 66 years old and for a very long time I have believed that our water will one day be our great wealth, like oil is for the countries that produce it. I have always been scandalized to see that our authorities allow large multinationals to drink our drinking water for a pittance… and resell it to us at high prices. For now, they are multinationals; soon, it will be countries (the United States in the lead) that will not hesitate to pump our natural wealth. We must take control now!
Mark Slythe, Quebec
care more
Your text sums up my thoughts very well. It is imperative to protect this vital resource for humanity. We are currently seeing in several countries of the world the impact that a shortage of water can have on populations. Drought, disease, poverty, infant death… and soon conflicts which will take more and more scale to appropriate this vital wealth. Draconian measures must be taken to protect this resource and, at the moment, our governments do not seem to care.
Germain Billette
Surveillance
When will sprinkler systems be banned on residential and commercial properties? When is the inspection of residential in-ground pools whose infrastructures leak their contents and which require constant filling (due to lack of maintenance or to avoid very costly repairs)? There would surely be very great savings in the use of drinking water by our municipalities. We would all benefit from it.
Berthe Laliberte, Boucherville