Water conservation is the practice of using water efficiently to reduce unnecessary water usage. According to Fresh Water Watch, water conservation is important because fresh clean water is a limited resource, as well as a costly one. As a homeowner, you’re probably already well aware of the financial costs of inefficient water use. Conservation of this natural resource is critical for the environment — and our wallets.
Water conservation is the careful use and preservation of the water supply, including the quantity and quality of water utilized. Water is an essential asset for the nourishment of all life. The fundamental demand for all activities appropriate for local use to the agricultural industry. With the regularly expanding weight of the human population, there has been serious tension on water resources. Negligence of customary water bodies like tanks and lakes, unpredictable abuse of groundwater, and incorrect preservation of surface water systems have bothered the issue. Still further and is undoubtedly going to grow in the years to come. There are various approaches to making your water last nowadays. One simple yet often disregarded strategy to cut your water bill is to use your water twice. Unlike electricity, you can reuse water again and again. That's the idea of water conservation.
Saving WATER is IMPORTANT
Since safe and clean water is limited, people can access fresh water. They can control their water consumption to avoid waste and shortage. We know that the planet is mostly covered with saltwater. And can only be consumed after a desalination process, which is quite expensive. Saving water means a lot to humans and all the species on Earth. Events such as droughts further limit access to clean and fresh water. This means people must take extra steps to reduce water use and save as much water as possible. In some areas of the world, access to water is limited due to contamination. Water conservation has become essential in all regions, even where water seems abundant. That’s because our water resources are finite, and they are getting smaller every year. Use our guide to save more water, both indoors and in your garden and yard. Why Conserve Water?
In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers, and local watersheds. Conserving water also prevents greenhouse gas emissions associated with treating and distributing water.
Conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation and reducing pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The smaller the amount of water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by community-wide household water conservation.
Water is essential to our daily lives. Whenever water is used, there is a potential for conservation both inside and outside of your home or business. Fresh water is a limited resource, making water conservation an important factor for the environment. With population growth, expansion of industry, increasing levels of development activity, and the potential for climate change impacts there is increasing pressure placed on the province’s water resources. Whether you are on a municipal or a private domestic water supply, water conservation is a wise practice.
Here are some reasons why you might want to use less water:
Save money on your power bills by using less energy to heat and pump water
Delay or prevent expansion of costly water and wastewater treatment plants in your community which can save money on taxes
Reduce water shortage frequency and impacts
Environmental benefits
Water Usage
On average, Canadians use approximately 223 litres of water per person per day – making Canada one of the largest per capita water consumers in the world.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the highest per capita residential water consumer in Canada, using approximately 628 litres of water per person per day.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2013
Water is an important part of our daily lives and we use it for a wide variety of purposes. The majority of indoor water use occurs in the household bathroom at 65%.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada
How to Use Less Water
The majority of indoor household water use comes from toilets, washing machines, baths, showers, faucets and leaks. Outdoor water usage for things like watering the grass, washing the driveway, and for recreational uses can also use significant amounts of water. What you can do to save water is fairly simple. There are numerous ways to decrease your water use and help conservation efforts:
CHECK FOR LEAKS
Frequently checking for leaks helps to ensure you aren’t using large amounts of water. Toilets are the most common source of water leakage.
INSTALL WATER SAVING DEVICES
Adding water-saving devices to your home or business can help to conserve water. Consider adding:
Water faucet aerators
Low-flow showerheads
Toilet dams
OTHER SIMPLE CONSERVATION TIPS
Conservation in the bathroom
The bathroom accounts for the majority of indoor water use. Learn how to check for leaky toilets and other tips to save water.
Install water efficient toilets and fixtures.
When washing, brushing your teeth or shaving, never let the tap run continuously.
Turn off the taps tightly (but gently) so they do not drip.
Take shorter showers.
Fix leaky faucets and toilets. Even the smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 75 or more litres a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds.
To check for a toilet leak, place a few drops of food coloring or dye test tablets (available at home improvement stores) in the toilet tank. Do not flush; wait 10-15 minutes. If the bowl water changes colour, you have a leak.
Conservation in the kitchen:
Take foods out of the freezer early to allow plenty time to thaw rather than running water over it.
Keep water in the fridge so you don’t have to run the tap to get cold water.
Completely fill the dishwasher before you turn it on. It can use 35-45 litres per cycle.
If you wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water.
Keep cooking fats, oils and grease out of the drain. They can stick to and block the inside of pipes, which can lead to sewer back-ups and basement flooding.
Conservation in the laundry room
Purchase a high efficiency washing machine.
Try to only do laundry when the machine is full.
If you need to wash smaller loads, be sure to adjust your washer’s water level settings accordingly.
Conservation outdoors:
Deep-soak your lawn, long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems.
Water in the morning to eliminate evaporation.
Adjust sprinklers to water lawns and not driveways or the sidewalk.
Avoid watering on windy days.
Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth too.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
When washing your car, rather than use a running hose consider using a bucket, a sponge, and a hose with a trigger nozzle.
Check garden hoses and connections frequently and keep them drip-free. Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they are not as visible, but they can be just as wasteful as leaks inside.
Conservation during winter
Typically, water use increases in the summer as we try to meet water demand of lawns, vegetable gardens and flowers. Unlike most provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador uses more water in the winter months compared to the summer. This is mainly due to the risk of freezing water pipes during cold temperatures. Here are some ways you can conserve water during the winter:
Drip faucets instead of running water to prevent your pipes from freezing.
Collect water in a bucket for flushing the toilet. Showers take longer to heat up in the winter so take advantage of the first few minutes of cold water.
Wrap all exposed pipes and insulate hot water pipes to help protect them against bursting.
If your pipes do burst, know where your shut off valve is to prevent excessive damage and decrease water usage.
Call in a plumber after the first thaw to check your pipes for damage and leaks.
Do not use your hose to melt snowbanks. This is an unnecessary waste of water.
WATER EFFICIENCY FOR BUSINESS
By reducing water consumption you can:
Lower operating costs.
Enhance your public image by demonstrating your commitment to the environment.
Increase your competitiveness by saving money and attracting new loyal costumers.
