Conserving water

How to save water in your bathroom and kitchen 

• Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth; you can save up to 16 litres of water each time 

• Fill the sink instead of letting water run while shaving, washing vegetables or washing dishes by hand 

• Keep a jug of water in the fridge or use a few ice cubes to cool your water  

• If doing the dishes by hand, fill sink with water to rinse 

• Watch Be Water Smart videos - Kitchen Tips | Saving Water In Your Bathroom | Water Saving Shower Tips 

Dishwasher 

• Do not pre-rinse dishes before placing them in the dishwasher - scrape food into your green bin  

• Only run the dishwasher with a full load

• Ensure all dishes are angled so water can reach them

Washing Machines 

• Only run the washing machine with a full load

• Use the correct setting for large, medium and small loads

• Pre-treat stains to avoid rewashing

• If you need a new washing machine, consider a water-efficient clothes washer; they can reduce water consumption by 35 to 50% when compared to older non-efficient models

• The most common water-efficient clothes washer is the ENERGY STAR® qualified model

Detecting leaks can save you money and avoid serious problems in your home. Conduct a whole home leak test at least once a year. 

Toilet Leak Test 

A leaking toilet can waste a great deal of water (up to 200,000 litres per year) but can go almost unnoticed. Unlike other leaks, there is often little to no sound associated with the leak. To find out if a toilet in your home is leaking, perform this simple test: 

1. Add a few drops of food colouring or a toilet leak tablet to the tank 

2. Wait 15 minutes 

3. Check the bowl for colour 

If the colour has seeped into the bowl without flushing, there is an internal leak that needs fixing.  

Learn more: Watch Be Water Smart - Toilet Tips

Whole Home Leak Test 

Conduct a whole home leak test at least once a year. This test will detect any large leaks or a few smaller leaks in your home: 

1. Turn off all water-using fixtures and appliances (including small ones like water softeners and water filters) 

2. Record water meter reading 

3. Wait 15 to 30 minutes and make sure no one uses any water during this time  

4. Record water meter reading

If the number has gone up, you may have a large leak or a couple of smaller leaks requiring further investigation. Contact a licensed plumber to have the leak repaired as soon as possible. 

Flow Rate Test 

Do you know how much water your faucets and showerheads are using? It’s an easy test: 

1. Collect the water coming out of your tap for 10 seconds

2. Measure the volume of water collected

3. Multiply the volume by six

This is how much water your faucet or showerhead is using every minute. If your showerhead is using more than 9.5 litres of water, you should consider replacing your fixture. Major water savings are possible with a simple fixture upgrade. Low-flow showerheads, using 7.57 litres per minute, use up to 60% less water than a standard showerhead while still retaining strong water pressure.

Maintenance Tips For a Healthy Lawn

• Aerate every other fall to limit soil compaction, increase water absorption and help to reduce thatch
• Top dress every spring or fall with compost; rake into the lawn to a depth of half an inch
• Over-seed every spring or fall with a grass seed high in fescue content (at least 60 percent) and low in Kentucky Blue content (20 percent at the most)
  • Fescue grasses have fine blades that are drought and disease-resistant due to their deep rooting system
  • Kentucky Blue grass which is the only grass found in sod has the shallowest root system and is, therefore, the type of seed that is the weakest, most water dependent and most susceptible to disease
• Mowing height should be six centimetres to eight centimetres to shade roots and prevent weed seed germination
• Fertilize every fall with compost to give your lawn the nutrients it needs to make it through the winter
• Watch Be Water Smart video - Lawn Maintenance Tips

Watering Tips For a Healthy Lawn and Garden

Your lawn and garden may not need as much water as you think. Follow these tips to keep your lawn and garden healthy while saving water at the same time:

1. Use a watering gauge to measure the amount of water that is applied to your lawn and garden through rainfall and water only when needed
2. Water once a week to encourage deep, strong root growth and ensure your lawn can better cope with the hot, dry weather of summer only if there hasn't been a significant amount of rainfall (Watch Be Water Smart video - Lawn Watering Tips)
3. Water your grass in the early morning when the sun is lowest; watering while the sun is low ensures water gets to the roots instead of evaporating
4. Avoid evening or overnight watering as this creates cool, moist conditions which can lead to problems with disease and insects
5. If using a sprinkler, choose a water-efficient sprinkler that shoots low to the ground; oscillating sprinklers lose more water to evaporation and wind drift
6. If you have an in-ground irrigation system, consider calling a Water Smart Irrigation Professional to ensure your system is running efficiently
7. Consider using a rain barrel as a source of water for your flowers and vegetables rather than tap water (Watch Be Water Smart video - Rain barrel Tips)
8. Learn more about your local Outdoor Water-Use Bylaw
9. Watch Be Water Smart video - Mulch Tips