![\"R\u00e9partition](\"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Profil-regional-de-lindustrie-bioalimentaire-au-Quebec-Mauricie-et-Saguenay-Credit-MAPAQ.png\")
In fact, agriculture requires more water than any industry: globally, water for agricultural irrigation purposes monopolizes 70\u00a0% \u00e0 80\u00a0%<\/a> of all the fresh water consumed on the planet. The animal products sectors are the most voracious. Quebec is also fertile ground for the pork industry: it provides 6\u00a0%<\/a> of all pork consumed in the world. In 2019, this represented a production of 7.1 million animals<\/a>! Watering the cereals used to feed the animal, hydration, cleaning of facilities: when we consider all of Quebec's animal production, we understand why water consumption is increasing so quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This water, just like drinking water, is drawn from groundwater or simply surface water (in lakes and rivers). It even happens that water is drawn from certain wetlands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some farmers manage to make do with rainwater collected in a well to irrigate their land; their actions are therefore not taken into consideration in the calculation of the levy. On the other hand, with climate change and periods of drought and flooding, these farmers risk turning to sources other than rainfed and inflating the current figures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a significant quantity of water is withdrawn, this risks creating low water (the lowest water level) and modifying the natural flow of the watercourse. In the event of a weakened flow, the contaminants are therefore less well diluted. During low water periods, nautical and swimming activities are affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most worrying thing is that drinking water and agricultural water are, in a way, in competition<\/strong>\u00a0: we will have to make a choice considering that we plan to reach a population of 9.6 billion humans in 2050, that global food demand will double<\/a>, that climate change will alter the quantity of available water by generating droughts and floods, and that certain regions already have drinking water shortage issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agricultural production has several other impacts on waterways. Among other things, it causes a high level of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water as well as a higher presence of fecal coliforms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to many experts, the presence of phosphorus<\/strong> in water is not alarming in itself. It is even essential to the productivity of freshwater ecosystems. On the other hand, due to human activities such as agriculture, there is far too much phosphorus in our waterways. Indeed, according to researchers in a study from the University of Montreal and McGill University<\/a> studying data between 1985 and 2011, 19 of 23\u00a0Watershed<\/a> \u00e9tudi\u00e9s ont franchi le seuil des 2,1\u00a0tonnes par kilom\u00e8tre carr\u00e9. Selon leurs estimations, cela prendrait des centaines (peut-\u00eatre m\u00eame des milliers) d\u2019ann\u00e9es pour revenir sous un seuil acceptable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nitrogen contamination level <\/strong>is less important than for phosphorus, but it should still not be neglected. In 1981, \u00ab\u200980\u00a0% des terres agricoles au Canada se retrouvaient dans la cat\u00e9gorie de risque \u201ctr\u00e8s faible\u201d pour le risque de contamination de l\u2019eau par l\u2019azote\u2009\u00bb<\/a>. En 2016 ce sont seulement 49\u00a0% qui \u00e9taient \u00e0 \u00ab\u2009tr\u00e8s faible\u2009\u00bb risque. Sans surprise, les r\u00e9gions ayant subi une densification plus intense depuis les derni\u00e8res ann\u00e9es sont celles o\u00f9 le risque est le plus grand. La carte suivante d\u00e9montre quelques r\u00e9gions des plus \u00e0 risque par une couleur plus fonc\u00e9e.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phosphorus and nitrogen are in fact found in several fertilizers, which sometimes also include potassium, and in manure. During spreading periods, farmers cover their land with a layer of fertilizer and manure. Phosphorus and nitrogen then become fixed in the soil, sometimes saturating it. When there is rain, or any other water discharge, the precipitation runs off and flows, carrying contaminants with it until they reach surface and groundwater.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, during erosion, saturated soils contaminate banks and water. Then, present in too large quantities in water, nitrogen can be harmful to human health while phosphorus rather causeseutrophication<\/a>. Remember that agricultural land is often located near watercourses; the streaming drops therefore have a higher concentration than if the drops took a longer trip.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere does the water taken come from?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Agriculture_Credit_Lise1011_Flickr.jpg\")
Consequences of water withdrawals\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Contaminants: phosphorus, nitrogen and fecal coliforms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Risque](\"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Risque-de-contamination-de-leau-de-surface-par-lazote-au-Canada-en-2016-Credit-Gouvernement-du-Canada.png\")
Consequences of contaminants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Poule_Credit-Olivier-Duval_Flickr.jpg\")
<\/div>