Water use information for sustainable water management: Building blocks and the Ontario situation

Abstract

Relatively little attention has been given to collection of water use information compared to information about hydrological systems. In this paper, we question whether there is an adequate database in Ontario to allow us to understand ’water use’ with confidence, so that sustainable water management decisions can be made. Based on the review of available research, and personal communication with representatives from key agencies, it was established that data pertaining to water use should include information about who is withdrawing the water, the amount of water withdrawn, the sources of water supply, the spatial component of water use, the variability of water use over time, the price of water, and nonwithdrawal uses. In addition, attention must be given to the accuracy of and accessibility to water use data. Existing sources of data in the public and private agencies in Ontario were reviewed according to the above parameters. It was found that there is no uniform, readily accessible database on water use in Ontario. Data about agricultural and rural domestic water use are not being collected or maintained on a systematic basis. There appear to be some serious inaccuracies and inconsistencies in some water use databases, leading to recommendations regarding a protocol for water use data collection, a system for water use information management, and more attention to variability of water use and nonwithdrawal uses of water. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.