Le défi de l'est ontarien: La gestion de l'eau dans un contexte de changement

Abstract

This thesis focuses upon the context of change: change in water demand relating to population fluctuations and climatic change affecting the supply and demand of the water resource. This ultimately leads to the understanding of the challenges encountered by Eastern Ontario communities in water management. To do so, it is necessary to study supply and demand relations on water and their impacts upon the changes mentioned above. A literary review has been conducted to identify sustainable water indicators. These indicators will be used to evaluate available information to rural communities with which they can make enlightened decisions regarding these changes. These indicators have also been presented to the decision makers through a questionnaire, allowing them to evaluate their usefulness. In doing so, the decision makers are involved in the identification of environmental, economical and social concerns that could affect their communities. These concerns are further analyzed and explained in making a statement of the current conditions of water management in the area. This will further help to identify challenges that decision makers will face in the future.