96-12E                                               June 1996

Manitoba Water Use Efficiency Program
Municipal Actions to Consider

On May 31, 1994, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) approved The National Action Plan to Encourage Municipal Water Use Efficiency. The goal of the plan is "to achieve more efficient use of water in Canadian municipalities in order to save money and energy, delay or reduce expansion of existing water and wastewater systems, and conserve water".

Manitoba Environment is initiating a Water Use Efficiency Program based on the two main elements of the CCME's action plan. The first element emphasizes government leadership by encouraging reduction of water use in government's own facilities, advocating adoption of water efficient policies, regulations and codes, promoting public awareness of benefits of water use efficiency, and encouraging acceptance and use of water efficient products. The second element urges assisting actions at the municipal level that increase water efficiency. Manitoba's plan reflects these priorities.

Manitoba's program is built on activities that address various aspects of the six objectives identified in CCME's plan:

1. Strengthening partnerships with municipal and local governments, and other agencies of the provincial government;

    

2. Identifying existing barriers to efficient water use, and developing plans to overcome those barriers;

    

3. Changing existing plumbing codes to encourage water efficient appliances and systems, and reviewing the impact of other legislation on water use;

    

4. Developing and distributing public education materials;

    

5. Retrofitting key government buildings to demonstrate benefits of efficient water use; and

    

6. Defining water use efficiency specifications for new construction and permanent renovations of public buildings.

The need for efficient use of municipal water in Manitoba is not obvious. Manitoba is blessed with an abundant amount of surface and groundwater in its inland lakes, rivers, and aquifers. However, the amount of water available for municipal use in Manitoba is diminishing. Water sources available to communities have sometimes become contaminated due to results of natural or human processes. Consequently, suitable water sources are becoming less common. Treatment is becoming essential. Treatment and accessibility are therefore becoming expensive factors in municipal water supply decisions. In addition, the costs of providing water and wastewater treatment services to Manitobans are steadily increasing.

Consumption rates, both at work and at home, are very high in Canada.

In Europe and Australia, water conservation in industry is essential to remain competitive. Environment Canada reports that water in Sweden costs over twice as much and in Australia over four times as much as in Canada.

In the home each day, each of us uses about 340 litres of water. Compare that to average European water consumption at just 140 litres per day. During the summer, our household water use can increase by 50% or more.

Reducing the demand for this life sustaining resource begins with each of us.

Municipal Expenditures and Water Use

The expenses associated with a steadily increasing need for municipal water are numerous. The infrastructure that brings water from the water source must be built and maintained. Large quantities of energy are used to pump the water from the water source, through the system to the user. Similarly, wastewater must be collected and transported to the sewage treatment plant before being released back to the environment. Treatment technologies required to produce high quality water that is in compliance with the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality can also use costly labour and chemicals. Handling the resulting wastewater safely and effectively also requires expensive infrastructure, ongoing labour and chemical costs, and monitoring programs.

Municipal Benefits from Reduced Water Use

In addition to exercising better stewardship of a precious resource, water use efficiency produces economic benefits by helping to:

• Reduce or defer municipal water treatment or wastewater treatment plant upgrades or expansions.
• Extend life of current treatment plants.
• Allow more users to use existing treatment plants.
• Defer need for additional water sources.

Possible Municipal Actions

The following options should be considered when designing a municipal water use efficiency plan:

• Water audit: Investigation of municipal water use and waste.
• Target-setting: Determine water supply and treatment issues in your particular community. Set quantity reduction and time frame targets based on obtainable goals and your community's needs.
• Water metering and pricing: Install meters for every customer; (awareness of water use enabled by metering can reduce domestic water consumption by 10% to 50%); adjust rate structure to meet your community's water service objectives.
• Reducing municipal water system leakage: If the water audit reveals unaccountable water loss, initiate a leak detection program for the infrastructure of the community. (Losses as high as 35% of a city's water output have been detected.)
• Leading by example: Investigate the feasibility of retrofitting buildings owned, rented, or operated by the municipality;.
• Awareness and education: Promote water issues and discuss solutions with the citizens of your community. Outline specific benefits for domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors. Educate consumers about the actual charges for the various components of their water delivery system, and savings that would be achieved with water efficient devices.
• Customer incentives: Retrofit programs, or installation of water saving fixtures can be facilitated by a grant or rebate program.
• Guidelines and by-laws: Issue guide-lines or by-laws which promote efficient water use.
• Review administrative policies: Regulate water pressure in the distribution system. Pressure at 350 kPa (50 psi) will reduce leaking around valves and linkages, and may reduce consumption in the same way as low flow faucets and shower heads.

Clean water is a finite resource, even in Manitoba. Treating municipal water, and wastewater to an acceptable level requires sizable infrastructure and operating expenditures. Encourage modest consumption rates, both at home and at work. Using water efficiently is a key to solving water related municipal supply challenges..

Inquiries on Manitoba's Water Use Efficiency Program may be directed to the Water Use Efficiency Coordinator:

Manitoba Environment
Pollution Prevention Branch
123 Main Street
Suite 160
Winnipeg MB R3C 1A5
Telephone: (204) 945-8980; Toll Free: 1-800-282-8069, ext. 8980