Fact: Canadians have the second highest per-capita water usage in the world, just behind the US.

Fact: Health problems related to water pollution are estimated to cost Canadians $300 million per year.

Fact: Effective management of water resources can improve health, minimize your global footprint, and save energy costs.  

Contact us to find out how to manage your water resources more efficiently.

Water Quick Facts:

• Health problems related to water pollution are estimated to cost Canadians $300 million per year.
• Canadians have the second highest per-capita water usage in the world, just behind the US -- we use twice the amount of water per capita per day as the average European.
• 1.1 billion people worldwide are forced to survive on 5 litres of water per day -- less than is used for 1 flush of a Canadian toilet.
• Water heating accounts for about 15% of residential energy use.  Upgrading to a high efficiency water heater can save between 10% and 50% in energy costs.
• In Vancouver, between 1992-1998, unsafe drinking water led to an estimated 17,500 physician visits, 85 hospital admissions, and 138 pediatric hospital emergency room visits.
• Bottled water can actually contain more bacteria than tap water, and can have other chemicals in it that have migrated from the plastic bottles the water is stored in. Some of these chemicals are toxic, others mimic hormones in your body, disrupting the body's natural balance.
• Bottled water costs more per litre than gasoline.

What's in the Water You're Drinking?

The quality of our water affects the quality of our health, and our lives.

Chlorine: Chlorine kills many micro-organisms in our treated drinking water; however, it also reacts with organic compounds to form potentially harmful levels of carcinogenic chemical by-products. While chlorine is effective in killing bacteria, it has limited effectiveness against protozoans that form cysts in water.

Protozoans: Two common examples of hard to kill protozoans are Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium. Giardia lamblia, a major cause of intestinal disease worldwide, infects the gastrointestinal tract, which can result in severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fatigue. Cryptosporidium causes an illness called cryptosporidiosis. It is in the same genetic group as the Malaria parasite.

Pesticides: At least 60 pesticides approved for use in Canada have been banned in the U.S. and Europe because of environmental health concerns. According to Environment Canada, "One gram of 2,4-D (a common household herbicide) can contaminate ten million litres of drinking water."

Bacteria, Viruses, and other Microorganisms: These can be present in water and can cause gastrointestinal illnesses. Often high E. Coli levels in water are an indication that more pathogenic coliform bacteria are present.

Algae and Fungi: An overgrowth of algae and fungi in water can adversely affect taste but also causes other problems. These organisms can lower the oxygenation of water. Water with lowered oxygen levels is a more likely breeding ground for other pathogens.

Heavy metals: Lead has long been known as a toxin that we should avoid. Copper can cause health problems at larger concentrations.

Chemicals Contaminants: Run-off from farms and industrial sites can end up in our water supplies. Many chemicals have not been well researched in terms of their effects on humans, because we are not expected to consume them.

Minerals: Specific minerals can affect taste, smell and color of the water. High mineral concentrations can also have adverse health effects on humans. As well, minerals can build-up on pipes, disrupting water flow and leading to more frequent repairs and replacements.

Contact Radec to address your concerns, or click to find out more about our water solutions.