OTTAWA, Dec. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Canadians were second only to Americans in their consumption of water in the world in 1999, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.

    "Most recent statistics from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD ) show that in 1999, each Canadianon average used 1,471 cubic meters of water," the agency said.

    Among the OECD member countries, Canada was second only to the United States, where each American used 1,870 cubic meters.

    In a study on human activity and the environment, the agency also noted that some of Canada's fresh water resources are threatened.

    "Since 1850, some 1,300 glaciers have lost between 25 percent and 75 percent of their mass, with most of this reduction occurring in the last 50 years. Along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, glacier cover is receding rapidly, and total cover is now close to its lowest level in 10,000 years."

    Statistics Canada also said that despite efforts to curb pollution, water quality is still a major concern for Canadians.

    "Agricultural run-off has contaminated drinking water suppliesand industries discharge hundreds of different substances into rivers and lakes daily. In 2001, more than 2,600 industrial facilities reported chemical discharges to water bodies," it said.

    Ammonia and nitrogen represented more than 94 percent of the total industrial discharges into water in 2001.

    The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association estimated that about 4.1 billion US dollars in additional investment would be required each year from 1997 to 2012 to modernize and improve all water and wastewater treatment plants. Enditem