Conserving Water At Home

The Lake Simcoe watershed is fortunate to have abundant reserves of clean water. It is important however, that we do not use water carelessly. Water from our bathrooms, kitchens and yards eventually finds its way into our rivers and eventually Lake Simcoe. The less water we use, the less polluted our water supplies will become. Currently, the average Ontario resident uses an estimated 325 litres of water per day. Studies have shown that by acquiring good water-use habits, each household could reduce water consumption by 20 to 40 percent without any major inconvenience.

What You Can Do

• Check for and eliminate any leaks in faucets, toilets, hoses and pipes. A steady drip wastes 64 litres a day and a leaking toilet can waste 630 litres a day without making a sound.
• Test for a leaking toilet by adding food colouring to the tank. Without flushing, note if any colour appears in the bowl after 30 minutes, if there is, you have a leak.
• Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are full. Use washing cycles that conserve the most water. (Permanent press cycles, for example, generally use an additional 30-65 litres of water.)
• Compost biodegradable garbage instead of putting it down a food waste disposal system. These systems not only use a great deal of water, they also add unnecessary solids to sewer systems.
• To reduce the amount of water that is flushed through your toilet system by 20 per cent, place water dams or two weighted two-litre plastic bottles filled with water in your toilet tank. Install low-flush toilets and reduce water use by 50 per cent.
• Use a broom to clean walks and driveways.Take short showers instead of baths. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Check with your local municipality, they may sell these items.Water your garden and lawn only when needed. Early morning watering reduces evaporation, pest problems, and "burning."
• Consider flushing your toilet for "solid reasons" only. People use more water flushing the toilet than by any other means.Turn the tap off while you are brushing your teeth, shaving, washing, or rinsing dishes, or washing fruits and vegetables. Keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running water to get a cold drink.
• Wash your car using a bucket. Rinse your car using a hose with a nozzle attachment.