Practical Tips for Saving Water at Home

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1 NBEIA AIENB NEW BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION NEW BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Practical Tips for Saving Water at Home

2 DID YOU KNOW? 60% of our body is made up of water 83% of our blood is water After water evaporates, it can spend up to 10 days in the atmosphere Canada has 20% of the Earth s freshwater supply Canada only has access to 7% of its freshwater supply (the other 13% is in glaciers and ice/snow-caps) PUBLISHED BY: NBEIA AIENB NEW BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION The New Brunswick Environment Industry Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the growth of environmental business in New Brunswick. For more information, please contact: New Brunswick Environment Industry Association PO Box 637, Station A, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5B3 Tel. (506) Fax (506) nbeia@nbnet.nb.ca Web: Text: Barbara Petrunic and Matthew Alexander (PhD Candidates at the University of New Brunswick) Advisors: Staff from the New Brunswick Department of Health and Wellness and the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government Proofing: NBEIA technical committee members, Elizabeth Hayward, John Pugh, Kathy Edwards, Rian Hogan Editor: Lee MacWilliams Graphic design/illustration: Imprint Communications Water is our most precious resource. Life sustaining and found almost everywhere on the planet, water is continuously recycled. The total supply of water found on Earth today is the same as it was a million years ago and is the RAIN Lake Water moving underground same as it will be a million years from now. The Earth s water circulation system is a global process that began when the Earth was formed. Using energy from the sun, water is transferred from one area to another. Water moves between the clouds, land, and ocean. Precipitation in the form of rain or snow falls to the ground and the ocean surface. Once on land, water can follow many different pathways. It can evaporate into the atmosphere, freeze as ice, run off into streams and lakes, or move into the ground. Water that ends up frozen will not continue in the cycle until it melts. Water that moves into streams, Daily Use (litres per person) lakes, and the ground eventually makes its way to the ocean where it is evaporated back into the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, the water falls to the ground or ocean again as precipitation perhaps taking a different journey through the cycle. Water on Earth is Ocean continuously recycled, but only a small fraction of the water in the cycle is freshwater. Water in glaciers, ice/snowcaps, streams, lakes, and the ground is considered our freshwater supply; it is a very small amount of water compared to the amount of water filling our oceans. It takes a long time for water that is no longer fresh to be cycled through the system and become freshwater again. Through our use and abuse of freshwater, we push the water cycle to its limit. Water conservation can help our Earth s water cycle by allowing the cycle to continue in its natural form. Streamflow EVAPORATION HOW DO WE MEASURE UP? United States Canada Italy Sweden France Israel 2 NBEIA AIENB

3 We all need freshwater to survive! Every day we depend on freshwater to live, yet almost everyone takes it for granted. Freshwater is a precious resource that we must preserve and protect. In North America and many developed parts of the world, human consumption of freshwater has increased to the point where we consume it much faster than nature can replenish it. We need to help nature through conservation. Population growth, increased living standards, inefficient use, and waste generation all threaten the supply of freshwater, and it is time to take responsibility for Every Drop Counts! Typical Household Water Use our actions. In order to guarantee a supply of freshwater for the future, we need to learn simple water conservation tips and techniques. Every person can easily learn to become water efficient and water wise around their home. Water conservation will not only help you protect our freshwater supply, but it will also save you money. By learning the three Rs of water conservation, you can help to protect and preserve the Earth s freshwater supply! By doing a few small things we can help protect our freshwater quality and quantity. We can all learn to Reduce, Repair, and Retrofit our homes to reduce water consumption. THINGS YOU CAN DO AROUND YOUR HOME TO MINIMIZE WATER CONTAMINATION Make sure your septic system is working properly by performing regular maintenance checks Ensure your home heating oil tank is in good working condition (i.e., not leaking) and that you follow all regulations concerning its handling and storage Place a specially designed enclosure under your home heating oil tank as a precaution in case a leak occurs Minimize the amount of household chemicals that you use and dispose of them at the appropriate local drop off centre Buy only the amount of chemical products that you require Purchase biodegradable products whenever possible Clean up chemical spills as soon as possible Keep garbage in a proper storage area Avoid the use of pesticides and fertilizers around your home True or false? Water conservation is all about reducing the amount of water we use. False. You can also conserve water by protecting it from contamination. Purifying and treating contaminated water is often very difficult and can be nearly impossible to do. So it s just as important to protect our water supplies from contamination as it is to reduce the amount of water we use. Contaminants that can enter our water supplies include bacteria, chemicals, and particulates (i.e., clays and dirt). Although it may be easy in some cases to remove contaminants through filtering, settling, or chemical treatment, in other instances water treatment can be more challenging. In addition, taking precautions to avoid water contamination around your home can help reduce the amount of stress placed on municipal water and wastewater treatment plants. Less stress on water treatment facilities translates into lower maintenance costs and ultimately lower user fees. SOME COMMON CONTAMINANT SOURCES: Cleaners and chemicals that are improperly disposed down the drain Fertilizers and pesticides used for landscaping Leaking gasoline or oil from vehicles Leaking oil from home heating oil tanks Leaking garbage disposal bins Bacteria from improperly functioning septic tanks or animal waste NBEIA AIENB 3

4 TYPICAL WATER CONSUMPTION (CONVENTIONAL USAGE) Washing machine: 225 L/wash 10 minute shower: 100 L Dishwasher: 40 L/wash Hand washing dishes: 35 L/wash Toilet flush: 15 to 20 Lpf Brushing your teeth with the tap on: 10 L/brush Washing your hands with the tap on: 8 L/wash Operate your WASHING MACHINE only when FULL. IT S A FACT A leak that drips one drop every second produces enough water in a year to fill one-third of a standard backyard swimming pool. Learning to conserve will allow us to have more freshwater available during times when there are water shortages. Simple conservation techniques around your home can reduce water consumption by as much as 40%. What can you do to help protect our freshwater resources without affecting your current lifestyle? Below are some simple tips and techniques for Reducing water consumption and Repairing your water system around your house. Beneficial practices, although more costly, are given for Retrofitting your home. It makes good sense (and $aves cents!) to conserve. The three Rs will often pay for themselves in a short time period. IN YOUR KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY ROOM one. LEARN TO REDUCE Instead of using warm water to defrost vegetables, put them in the fridge to thaw Put a large bottle of water in the fridge to get cold water instead of running the tap Use a partially filled sink to clean your fruits and vegetables instead of using running water Operate your dishwasher only when it is full Make a compost pile instead of using an in-sink garbage disposal that uses large amounts of water Turn the taps off tightly (but gently) so they don t drip Set your water-level indicator on your washing machine to the proper setting and use the shortest cycle possible two. LEARN TO REPAIR Seek out the leaks: Look under the sink, are there any drips that should be fixed? Are the hoses going to the dishwasher and washing machine leak free? What about the water hose going to the cold water dispenser in your fridge or ice-maker? three. LEARN TO RETROFIT Install aerator attachments on your kitchen sink faucets to break water into fine droplets and reduce water consumption by up to 60% (avoid this on your laundry room sink where you need large quantities of water quickly) If you need to purchase new appliances that use water, try to buy water efficient ones RINSE DISHES in a second sink or large pot instead of with running water. 4 NBEIA AIENB

5 ANNUAL COST OF SHOWER WATER CONSUMPTION Water Rate (per m 3 or 1000 L) $0.50 $1.00 $0.50 $1.00 Litres per minute Water Rate (per m 3 or 1000 L) $0.50 $1.00 Lpf Shower Time 6 min 6 min 12 min 12 min Standard Toilet $55 $ Type of Showerhead Standard Low-flow $76 $42 $148 $84 $148 $84 $296 $ This table was generated based on a household in which there are 28 showers per week (Environment Canada website: REUSE YOUR TOWELS to save on laundry water use. ANNUAL COST OF TOILET WATER CONSUMPTION Low-flush Toilet $39 $ Ultra lowflush Toilet $17 $ This table was generated based on a household with four people, flushing four times per day (Environment Canada website: gpf = gallons per flush Lpf = Litres per flush 1 US gallon = 3.79 Litres TOILET LINGO 1 Litre = 0.26 US gallons 1 m 3 = 1000 L * Your toilet s water use per flush should be printed on the porcelain between the bowl and the tank IN YOUR BATHROOM one. LEARN TO REDUCE Keep your shower under 6 minutes When taking a bath, only fill the tub partially full Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, washing your hands, or shaving Don t use the toilet as a wastebasket or flush it unnecessarily For conventional toilets, you can install a toilet dam inside or plastic container in the tank to reduce the Lpf, but be sure that you do not affect the flushing mechanisms inside the tank Don t use a brick in your toilet tank because it can break down and interfere with the flushing mechanisms two. LEARN TO REPAIR Seek out all leaks in your bathroom by looking under the counter and around the toilet and bathtub three. LEARN TO RETROFIT Shower Retrofit Conventional showerheads use about 18 L of water per minute. Water-efficient showerheads cut the amount of water delivered by half. Although these devices use half the water, the effectiveness of the shower remains essentially the same. Another innovation on newer showerheads is the use of a shut-off valve. These valves can be used to stop water flow while you are shampooing your hair and then resume flow at the same temperature when required. Toilet Retrofit New toilets are designed for flushing with low water volumes. For instance,the ultra-lowflow toilet uses only 6 Lpf whereas low flow toilets use 13 Lpf, and conventional toilets (15+ years old) use about 19 Lpf. Some toilets are more effective than others. But in general, if you need to change your toilet, consider a low-flow toilet as an option. There is on-going debate on the effectiveness of ultra-low-flow toilets for removing waste. If you consider this type of toilet, you can research the debate online. Calculate your annual household cost for SHOWERING (only for households on municipal water supply systems): Your municipal water rate Annual Cost = $ X L X X X minute m 3 Based on your type of showerhead length of shower showers day number of minutes Calculate your annual household cost for flushing the TOILET (only for households on municipal water supply systems): Your municipal water rate Annual Cost = $ X Lpf X total flushes X day m 3 NBEIA AIENB 5

6 HAND WASH your car using a bucket of water and quickly rinse with a hose equipped with a NOZZLE. Use a BROOM to clean your driveway and sidewalk instead of using the hose. Use SPRINKLERS that SPIN in a circle because they minimize the amount of water lost to evaporation. OUTSIDE YOUR HOME one. LEARN TO REDUCE Water your lawn only during the early morning or late evening hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter in order to reduce water lost to evaporation Collect rainwater from the downspouts on your home to use for watering your plants and garden (never drink this water) Keep your swimming pool covered when it is not in use to minimize evaporation Use children s water toys that don t use a constant supply of water two. LEARN TO REPAIR Seek out the leaks all around your house: Check around the taps to make sure that there are no leaks Check that hose connections are secure and do not leak three. LEARN TO RETROFIT Landscaping Can Reduce Water Consumption If you are thinking about making landscaping changes to your yard, consider planting trees, shrubs, grasses, and plants that are native to your area. Native vegetation usually requires less water than non-native plants because it has adapted to the climate conditions in your area. Incorporating mulch into your landscape design can also help reduce water loss through evaporation. Innovative Irrigation Systems Save Water Soaker hoses have holes in them that are positioned toward the ground. Turning on the tap will allow water to exit the hose all along the length and direct it downward into the ground, thereby reducing the amount of water that is lost by evaporation. If you are putting in a new flower garden consider installing a drip irrigation system. It is highly water efficient and gets water to where it is needed at the plant roots. In this system, porous tubes deliver small quantities of water directly to the root zone of your flowerbeds and gardens. HOSES should be CHECKED along their length to ensure that there are no holes in them. 6 NBEIA AIENB

7 Conservation Word Search S G T Q K R C W I R Q K E Q H R E C P E O A A N Q T V J O O S D B L N X A T I F A O W U O B N K T B T F E Z P G E N H U N N A E P F A R O O R D B H T I M D R I P S R N U W N C O R I R N Q L G A S S A T X I P N I E I P K T Z D T E Y R S A L P V A C I G W E X N F K T D N H I R O G D R Z Q I U I N X H Z R N Z F A U C E T O B U T H T A B V W I A R L N K M M Y J N U N O I T A V R E S N O C V N Colour the Water Cycle Water moves in a cycle between the clouds, land and ocean. When people conserve water it helps our Earth s water cycle. Water Conservation Evaporation Contamination Faucet Drips Shower Bathtub River Groundwater Evaporation Ocean Sprinkler Hose Rain Rain River Hey kids! Check out these fun water conservation websites! WORD SEARCH SOLUTION: NBEIA AIENB 7

8 Word Scramble Can you unscramble these words? Remember to turn off the tap while brushing your 1 (eteht). 2 Taking a quick (wehsro) uses less water than taking a bath. 3 Tell your parents if you notice water dripping from the (stpa). 4 Try and find toys to play with outside that don t need running (tawre). 5 Use a bucket and sponge to wash your bike instead of using the (sohe) Can you find ways that these people can conserve water? Answers to Word Scramble: 1 teeth; 2 shower; 3 taps; 4 water; 5 hose. 1 Turn off the water while washing the dishes. Water the lawn in the early morning hours or later in the 2 evening to avoid evaporation during the hot summer sun. 4 3 Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Turn off the hose while washing the car and use a bucket of soapy water instead. 8 NBEIA AIENB