Conserving water is the right thing for Canadians to do

By Samantha Zaluski

Canadians are the second highest water consumers in the world, second only to our southern neighbour, the United States. The action being discussed in “Water Conservation” by Sierra Club of Canada National Office is whether or not Canadians should conserve water. This NGO states the following reasons why we should conserve water: we would not have to build new dams or pump groundwater, conservation costs less money than building new supplies, less fossil fuel usage is used to transport water, and lastly that lower demand will lead to more de-centralized supplies which are more flexible to our ever-changing world. The Sierra Club of Canada believes that all things matter morally: the environment (the earth, animals and plants), this generation and all future generations.

A non-consequentialist view is that an action is ethically correct if it abides by all moral laws and does not considering the outcome of the action. 1) The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what is ecologically best for the earth: “Dams and diversions fragment river ecosystems. Bigger pumps built to bring groundwater to the surface drain ponds, wetlands and streams, undermining the health of these critical ecosystems.” Not having to build new dams or pump groundwater is better for the earth and biosphere. 2) The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what costs less: “From an economic perspective, maximizing the efficiency of existing infrastructure and minimizing the need for future expansion reduces costs.” Maximizing the efficiency costs less money than building new supplies. 3) The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what is best for the environment: “Building the infrastructure for supply-side options and the pumping that is often required to transport water both require vast amounts energy. Currently, this energy is produced from fossil fuels or nuclear reactors leaving a legacy of more greenhouse gas emissions and toxic waste for future generations.” The less water used means less fossil fuel usage, since transporting water takes traditional sources of water. 4) The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what is best for society: “Decentralized and small-scale solutions can be implemented incrementally, enhancing local capacity to adapt to an increasingly uncertain future of changing economies, changing social values and a changing climate.” The less demand for water means more de-centralized and flexible solutions, which is better longer-term. Sierra Club is appealing to people's sense of what is morally right and wrong by using reasons about the earth, environment, and society.

A consequentailist view is one that considers an action to be correct if it's outcome provides the greatest amount of good or happiness for the greatest amount of people. The Sierra Club’s first argument about doing what is ecologically best for the earth; they do not consider the jobs lost by not undertaking these new infrastructure developments. They do consider the consequences to the ecology of the environment on the other hand. The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what costs less; they are not considering the benefits to the economy by upgrading to new and possibly more efficient technology. The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what is best for the environment; they do consider the consequences of the pollution and the usage of energy. The Sierra Club uses the argument that it is morally right to do what is best for society; they didn't consider the jobs gained if there are more local water supplies or the quality of life could decreasing such as less shower or less green lawns. The Sierra Club considers some but not all of the consequences of conserving water.

Sierra Club has considered some of the consequences of their policy on water conservation, but hasn't explicitly weighed out the good consequences versus the bad, although if they did, they would clearly show that water conservation does lead to the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This policy is largely a deontologist's view. This policy appeals mostly to those who have high moral standards and likely believe in water conservation already. Those who are on the fence about whether or not to conserve or not perhaps would need to see an explicit analysis of the relative benefits and costs to all involved parties.

References:

Sierra Club of Canada National Office “Conservation of Water” Sierra Club. Accessed Nov 4, 2009 http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/programs/health-environment/water/campaign.shtml?x=1073