Industrial Water Survey, 2011
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Released: 2014-07-02
Thermal-electric power producers remained the country's dominant user of water in 2011.
Data from the Industrial Water Survey show that the three main industry groups covered by this survey had a total water intake of 27.6 billion cubic metres in 2011. Power producers accounted for 85.1% of this total, manufacturers 13.3% and mines 1.6%.
Among manufacturers, five industries accounted for almost 95% of the sector's water intake in 2011: the paper, primary metals, chemicals, food, and petroleum and coal industries.
The vast majority of the intake was returned to the water supply. Total water discharge for the three main industry groups in 2011 was 26.9 billion cubic metres. Thermal-electric power producers accounted for 85.8% of the total, manufacturing industries almost 12% and mining industries 2.2%.
Prior to discharge, these same industries recirculated 6.0 billion cubic metres of water. Thermal-electric power producers accounted for 61.4% of this total, manufacturing industries 30.9% and mining industries 7.7%.
The three groups had water costs totalling $1.4 billion.
Note to readers
The 2011 Industrial Water Survey was conducted under the umbrella of the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators project, a joint initiative of Statistics Canada, Environment Canada and Health Canada. The survey gathered information on the intake and discharge of water by three groups of industries: manufacturing, mining and thermal-electric generating industries. It collected information on sources of water, purposes for which the water was used, whether water was recirculated or reused, where the water was discharged and what treatments were used. It also collected information on water acquisition costs, treatment costs and operating and maintenance expenses related to water intake and discharge.
Products
The publication Industrial Water Use, 2011 (16-401-X), is now available from the Browse by key resource module of our website under Publications.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Murray Cameron (613-951-3740; murray.cameron@statcan.gc.ca), Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division.
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