In response to the Co-operator’s article “Change in water culture necessary, experts say,” published April 4.
As a matter of fact, water usage estimates in swine production were introduced at the 2007 hearings by the Manitoba CEC (Clean Environment Commission). Also, a study by DGH Engineering put the estimated water use by type of operation and function at 89.5 litres per sow per day, just about the same estimate that the MPC (Manitoba Pork Council) tried to hide in their submission to the CEC.
The CEC actually commissioned a study on total water use. The CEC’s final 2007 report found that total use by hog inventories was almost three times the amount of water that MPC claimed.
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Now, 16 years later, the factory hog barns have increased by over 60 per cent. Yes, it’s past time for governments to deal with the ‘factory water hogs’ in Manitoba.
John Fefchak
Virden, Man.
