Industry also typically locates close to these population centres, further increasing demands on water. Canada's per capita demands on water resources are the second highest in the world. At about 326 litres per person per day at home, Canadians use twice as much water as the average European. The price that Canadians pay for water does not reflect the full cost of providing the service. Since the beginning of 1997, two families of four have been living in a semi-detached house that is completely independent of municipal systems.
All water comes from rainfall and is stored in a cistern.
An innovative waste treatment system with passive biological filtration is used for recycling the water. Water consumption in the house was first reduced to half that of a conventional style home by water-saving appliances. Without sacrificing lifestyle, water use in the home is 720 litres per day. The manufacturing sector is making steady progress toward more efficient use of water. In many industries, such as steel and pulp and paper manufacturing, technical advancements, recycling efforts, and the adoption of the principles of eco-efficiency have resulted in significant decreases in water use.