You Can Help Conserve Water
Water is a lifeline and our most precious resource—without it we cannot survive. It is not an endless resource. With the increased demand for water, a rise in pollution and more frequent droughts, our usable water supply is decreasing.
Yet the average Canadian consumes as much as 335 liters of water a day. Of that, 30% is flushed down the toilet, 35% is used for showers and baths, 20% for washing clothing, 10% for cooking, 5% for cleaning. In the summer, household water use often increases by 50%, largely because of watering the lawn.
You can help protect this valuable resource by conserving water...
... in the kitchen.
- Keep a jug of drinking water in the fridge to avoid running water until it is cold.
- Fill the dishwasher before you turn it on. It uses 35-40 litres per cycle!
- Give your dishes a quick rinse when washing them by hand. Don't leave the water running.
- Repair leaky taps. A leak of 1 drop/second wastes 10,000 litres of water a year!
... in the bathroom.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
- A quick shower uses less hot water than a bath. When having a bath, fill the tub only 1/2 way.
- Never use your toilet as a garbage.
- Check for leaks in your toilet tank by putting 3 drops of food colouring in the tank at the back of the toilet. Wait a few minutes, and if the colour appears in the bowl, there is a leak!
... in the laundry room.
- Wash only full loads of laundry and be sure you don't overload the machine.
- Be sure to properly set the water level for the size of the load you are washing.
... outside.
- Don't over-water the lawn.
- Water in the early morning or late afternoon. In the hot daytime sun water is lost to evaporation.
To learn how much water you use every day, complete the Aeroplan Water Challenge.
You can also conduct a water audit at your school to measure how much water is used daily and how it can be reduced.
Next: Conduct a Water Audit »
