Amid water shortage, Manitoba town taps into old aquifer found to have high arsenic levels – CBC

Report on the Water Supply Crisis in Virden, Manitoba and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The town of Virden, Manitoba, is facing a significant public health and infrastructure challenge, placing it in direct conflict with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A critical depletion of its primary water source has forced the community to revert to an alternative supply known to contain arsenic levels exceeding national safety guidelines. This situation underscores failures in achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Background of the Water Management Failure

H3: Depletion of Water Resources and Unsustainable Practices

The current crisis originated from the unsustainable management of the town’s aquifer, which was first utilized in 2021. By October 2023, water levels had become “seriously low,” necessitating emergency conservation measures. This rapid depletion points to a significant challenge in meeting SDG 6, which calls for the sustainable management of water resources. Reports from local residents, supported by a 2020 water supply study, had previously raised concerns about the long-term viability of groundwater withdrawals from this source, indicating that withdrawals were outpacing the aquifer’s natural recharge rate.

H3: Reversion to a Contaminated Water Source

In response to the aquifer depletion, the town activated two older wells. However, historical data confirmed that this water source contains arsenic levels that exceed the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline of 0.01 milligrams per litre. This decision, while a temporary solution to a supply shortage, has created a direct public health risk, compromising the community’s access to safe drinking water as mandated by SDG 6.

Public Health and Community Impact

H3: Health Risks and Contradiction of SDG 3

An official advisory issued on October 19 warned residents of the health risks associated with long-term arsenic exposure, including an increased risk of cancer. This directly contravenes the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which aims to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals and contamination. The advisory recommended that residents use alternative sources, such as bottled water, for drinking and cooking, and noted that boiling the water could increase the arsenic concentration.

H3: Community Response and Social Implications

The population of approximately 3,000 has expressed significant frustration and concern over the lack of safe, potable water. The reliance on bottled water and the uncertainty surrounding the water supply’s safety have placed a burden on the community, affecting daily life and well-being. This situation highlights a failure to build a resilient and inclusive community as envisioned in SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Institutional Response and Future Outlook

H3: Governance and Infrastructure Challenges

The town of Virden is collaborating with the Manitoba Water Services Board to identify a viable long-term water supply. Current actions include:

1. Operating one pre-existing well from the older, contaminated source.
2. Drilling a replacement well as an immediate measure.
3. Overseeing water testing and regulations by the Environment and Climate Change Ministry and Manitoba Health.

The town has acknowledged a lack of internal expertise in aquifer and groundwater management, highlighting a gap in local capacity for ensuring sustainable infrastructure (SDG 11).

H3: The Need for Responsible Consumption (SDG 12)

Criticism has been raised regarding the town’s delayed implementation of water conservation measures. Residents have suggested that earlier restrictions on non-essential water use, such as for lawns and washing cars, could have mitigated the depletion of the primary aquifer. This points to a need for improved strategies aligned with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which encourages the efficient use of natural resources.

Conclusion: A Failure to Meet Sustainable Development Goals

The water crisis in Virden is a clear illustration of the interconnectedness of the Sustainable Development Goals. The failure to sustainably manage water resources has led to a public health emergency, undermining community well-being and resilience. Moving forward, a successful resolution will require a strategy that fully integrates the principles of the SDGs.

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The town is currently unable to provide a safe and reliable drinking water supply, and its past water management practices have proven unsustainable.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Residents are knowingly being supplied with water containing a carcinogen above federal guidelines, posing a direct threat to their long-term health.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The crisis reveals a lack of resilient water infrastructure and a failure in long-term planning to ensure the community’s basic needs are met.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Insufficient emphasis on water conservation and demand management contributed to the depletion of the primary water source.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire text revolves around the town of Virden’s struggle with providing clean and safe drinking water due to both scarcity (critically low aquifer levels) and contamination (arsenic levels exceeding guidelines).
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article directly connects the water quality issue to health risks. The advisory mentioned warns that drinking water with high levels of arsenic over a long period “can increase cancer risk,” linking contaminated water directly to human health and well-being.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The water crisis impacts the sustainability and resilience of the town of Virden. The failure to provide a basic service like safe water makes the community vulnerable. The article also highlights economic losses for residents, such as one person spending $40,000 on a new well, which affects the community’s economic sustainability.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • The article demonstrates a failure to meet this target for the 3,000 residents of Virden. The town is under a “water advisory warning,” and the water is not safe due to arsenic. Residents are forced to seek alternative sources, such as buying bottled water, which raises questions about affordability and equitable access.
2. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals.
   • The presence of arsenic, a hazardous chemical, at levels that “exceeded the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline” is a direct water quality issue. The town’s efforts to use “reverse osmosis and greensand filtration” are attempts to manage this contamination and improve water quality.
3. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
   • This target is highlighted by the initial cause of the crisis: “critically low” levels in the town’s aquifer. A resident notes that a 2020 study “raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of groundwater withdrawals” and believes the town’s withdrawals are “outpacing natural recharge,” pointing directly to unsustainable water management.
4. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and water pollution and contamination.
   • The official advisory explicitly warns residents about the long-term health risks, stating that arsenic exposure “can increase cancer risk.” This directly relates the water contamination issue to the goal of preventing illnesses from hazardous chemicals.
5. Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of people affected and decrease the direct economic losses caused by water-related disasters.
   • The water crisis in Virden can be classified as a localized, water-related disaster affecting the entire population of 3,000. The article provides a specific example of direct economic loss, where resident John Hipwell had to spend “$40,000” to dig a new well after his ran dry due to the town’s water withdrawals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Arsenic Concentration in Drinking Water
   • The article provides a specific, measurable indicator for water quality. It mentions the “federal drinking water guideline of 0.01 milligrams per litre” for arsenic. The fact that the town’s water source has levels “above” this guideline is a direct measure of the problem. Progress would be measured by testing the treated water to ensure it is at or below this threshold.
2. Population Under Water Advisory
   • The article states that the “town of approximately 3,000 people” is under a water advisory. The number or proportion of the population affected by such advisories is a clear indicator of the lack of access to safely managed drinking water. Lifting the advisory would indicate progress.
3. Aquifer Water Level
   • The article describes the aquifer’s water level as “critically low” and mentions one resident’s well level “dropped by nearly a metre in three months.” Monitoring the aquifer’s level and the rate of natural recharge versus withdrawals would be a key indicator for measuring progress towards sustainable water management (Target 6.4).
4. Reliance on Alternative Water Sources
   • The observation that residents are “buying bottled water” is an indicator that the primary water supply is not trusted or safe. A reduction in the purchase and use of bottled water for basic needs like drinking and cooking would signify improved public trust and access to safe tap water.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbc.ca