Canada is one of the top countries that use water. So you may be thinking.. why do people in Canadian Reserves live in third world country standards? Examples are Shoal Lake, a reserve that has been under water advisory for more than two decades but it is Winnipeg’s main source of it’s water. Many things can trigger a water advisory like bad pipe connections, wrong filtration and even contamination with bacteria. First Nation reserves are most likely to have water advisories than any other places in Canada. In 2014, 93% of First Nation reserves in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick reportedly had a water advisory some point in that year. Alberta is close behind them with 87% and Manitoba has the lowest percentage which is 51%.
Another example of a city affected by contaminated drinking water is Flint, Michigan. In 2014, the mayor and city council, Rick Snyder decided in order to save money they wouldn’t use the fresh water from Lake Huron. Their water was from Lake Huron, the third largest source of fresh water in the world! It was also filtered in Detroit Water Center. But instead they chose the deadly Flint River. People living in Flint, Michigan had to live off of bottled water to cook food, bathe and drink. But with 41% of the city is under poverty, not everyone got water. Many different poisons and diseases were found in the water like lead. If you lived in Flint, and used the filthy water to cook, bathe or even brush your teeth you may have lead poisoning.
The Fint Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan