To Reduce Water Consumption

By reducing water consumption you not only protect our water sources but also delay the need to expand our water and wastewater treatment plants, and prolong the life of in-ground sewage disposal systems, i.e., septic fields.

Saving water at home

Approximately 65 per cent of household water is used in the bathroom - about 30 per cent for toilet flushing and 35 per cent for showers and baths. Laundry consumes 20 per cent, kitchen and drinking 10 per cent, and cleaning 5 per cent.

Here are some suggestions on slowing the flow in your home.

Bathroom

• Replace high water use toilets (13 to 26 litres per flush) with 6-litre low flow toilets. Or consider an ultra-low flow toilet (less than 6-litres per flush) or a dual flush toilet (6-litres – 3-litres). These options can reduce water flushed by up to 77 per cent.
• In the meantime, reduce water per flush in toilets by up to 35 per cent by installing early closure devices.
• A toilet dam or even a water-filled plastic bottle suspended in your tank will reduce the amount of water by a few litres each time you flush.
• Don’t use the toilet to dispose of trash.
• A partially filled tub uses less water than a long shower; a short shower uses less than a full tub. Time your next shower. Make it a habit to be finished in less than 5 minutes. Fill the bath just half way.
• Replace your 20-litre-per-minute showerhead with a low-flow 9.5-litre-per-minute showerhead. You'll save more than half the water.
• Install a water conserving 3.5-litre-per-minute aerator on your bathroom tap.
• When shaving, rinse the razor in a cup or a partially filled sink instead of letting the tap run.
• Brush teeth using a glass of water to rinse.

Kitchen & laundry

• Install a water saving 9-litre-per-minute aerator on the kitchen tap.
• Rinse dishes in a stoppered sink or basin, not with running water.
• Wash vegetables in a basin or stoppered sink, then quickly rinse using running water.
• Keep drinking water in the fridge rather than running the water to get the desired chill. Wash the container and change the water every few days.
• Thaw food in the fridge rather than under a running tap. This conserves both energy and water.
• Compost organic wastes instead of using a sink garbage disposal.
• Buy a low-water-use dishwasher to save on energy, water and detergent costs.
• Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water whether it is full or empty, so make sure it is full before you use it.
• The same goes for your washing machine. Fill it to its maximum recommended load or select reduced water volumes for smaller loads.
• Front loading washing machines use less water than top-loading washers do. If unavailable, choose a clothes washer with a suds saver and water saving cycle.

General water use

• Only use water treatment or softening systems if required. If possible, only use softened water for bathing and cleaning – use unsoftened water for cooking, drinking and watering plants.
• Ensure your water softener regenerates only when the resin is exhausted. Turn the system off if you will be away for more than a few days.
• Insulate hot water tank and pipes to reduce the need to run water until it is hot. Install a heat trap on the pipe above your water heater to save energy and water.
• Know location of sink, toilet and main shut off valves in case a pipe or water heater blows, or so you can turn off your water when you are away.
• If your water pipes tend to freeze, do not let the tap run continuously. Instead, install heat tape or connect a pump-back reservoir system (discuss options with your plumber or electrician, or call Manitoba Conservation).
• Recycle. The less waste we put in landfills, the less chance it has to get into our groundwater, lakes and streams.
• Properly dispose of hazardous waste. Paints, chemicals and household cleaners should not be disposed of with other household waste and should never be flushed or poured down the drain. Contact your local hazardous waste disposal agency for instructions.

Leaks

Leaks account for 13.7 per cent of indoor water consumption. A leak of 30 drops per minute wastes about 250 litres per month.  A toilet that runs after a flush can waste as much as 200,000 litres of water per year. Fixing a hot water leak will save energy as well as water.

• Periodically check water meter readings at bedtime and in the morning. If readings differ and no water has been intentionally used, this will indicate a leak.
• Place a few drops of food colouring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Check the flapper valve, valve seat and flapper lift chain for the source.
• Conduct a periodic "leak check" a minimum of twice a year on water-using fixtures and appliances, including outside hose connections. Replace worn washers, O-rings and faulty fixtures.

In your yard

• More than 50 per cent of the water applied to lawns and gardens is lost due to evaporation or run-off because of over-watering. Find out how much water your lawn really needs. As a general rule, most lawns and gardens require little more than 2 to 3 centimeters (1 inch) of water per week.
• To reduce losses due to evaporation, water early in the morning (after the dew has dried).
• Watering off-peak helps your utility manage its load on the system and helps ensure adequate reservoir levels and water pressure for possible fire emergencies.
• Sprinklers should be suited to the size and shape of your lawn to avoid watering driveways and sidewalks.
• Sprinklers that lay water down in a flat pattern are better than oscillating sprinklers which lose as much as 50 percent of what they disperse through evaporation.
• Drip irrigation systems which apply water only to the roots zone are the most efficient – although the most expensive – alternative.
• Consider a low-maintenance landscape. Often called xeriscaping, the principles of a low-maintenance landscape include a reduced amount of lawn and proper plant selection, making use of native grasses, shrubs and trees which require less water.
• Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly on grass and gardens and carefully follow manufacturers’ instructions. Excess fertilizer or pesticide may end up in the water supply.
• Compost your kitchen and garden waste and use it instead of fertilizer. Compost is the natural way to fertilize. It’s free and an economical way to recycle organic waste.
• Clean up after your pet and dispose of waste in the trash. Pet waste belongs in the trash, not on the grass where it can contaminate surface or groundwater.
• When washing a car, fill a bucket with water and use a sponge. This can save about 300 litres of water.

Protecting water on your rural land

• Do not over-apply fertilizers and pesticides. Follow the manufacturers’ directions and use only when necessary. Excess fertilizers can run into our lakes and rivers. Too much fertilizer causes overgrowth of algae and water plants, and can even make water supplies toxic to people, fish and wildlife.
• Ensure that surface pollution and animal waste drains away from your well to prevent contamination.
• Properly seal old wells – ensure that they do not become a source of contamination to your groundwater.
• Leaking septic tanks are a major cause of groundwater contamination. Have yours inspected regularly and repaired promptly.
• Consider using a holding tank instead of a septic field. Holding tanks are emptied regularly and the waste is taken to a disposal site.
• Repair leaking oil and fuel tanks – they can contaminate soil as well as water. Inspect and repair as required.
• Monitor your irrigating carefully – you’ll save water, minimize runoff and also reduce the risk of increased soil salinity.

Saving water in business and industry

• Conduct a water audit with equipment operators to identify ways of decreasing water dependence, wastewater treatment and pumping costs.
• Use the best technology and management practices available to minimize costs and reduce hazards to the environment and human health.

Predictions and analysis on this page were excerpted from:

Climate Change Connection Manitoba

Additional Resources

Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart for Your Home
Manitoba Hydro Power Smart for your business
Manitoba Power Smart Savings, Rebates and Loans
Manitoba Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council
Agricultural Soil and Water Management
Manitoba Water Stewardship
Seeing Green: Innovative Ideas for a Growing Economy
Green Manitoba
Manitoba Conservation Water Efficiency Program
The Manitoba Water Strategy
Lake Winnipeg Action Plan

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