Water conservation at home
What you can do
Fresh water is a precious resource that should always be used wisely, especially during periods or drought or water shortage. Find out how you can help conserve Alberta’s water resources both inside and outside your home.
Indoor water conservation tips
Take shorter showers. Reducing shower time by 5 minutes will save about 100 litres of water per day.
Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving. Turning off the water when brushing your teeth can save about 32 litres per person, per day.
Fix leaks, including leaky toilets and faucets. This can reduce water use by up to 10%.
Fill the sink instead of letting the water run when washing dishes.
Keep a jug of cool water in the fridge instead of running the tap.
Use dishwashers and washing machines with full loads only.
Invest in modern, high-efficiency appliances that are more energy and water efficient. For example, new front-load washing machines use about 50% less water than older top-load units.
Outdoor water conservation tips in spring and summer
Water your lawn no more than necessary. Also, keeping your grass a bit taller (5 to 7 cm) will help shade the soil and allow better moisture retention.
If allowed, water sparingly in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
Collect and reuse water for outdoor plant use.
Clean outside with a broom instead of a hose.
Check for leaks in outdoor pipes, faucets, and hoses.
Plant drought tolerant vegetation and add mulch to help reduce evaporation and keep more moisture in your soil.
Use a water-saving pool filter.
Water conservation at work
Some of the actions you take to save water at home can also help your business reduce its water use. These actions include:
- checking your plumbing system for leaks
- installing water-efficient fixtures and equipment
- reminding your staff to use water wisely
Online resources
EPCOR
EPCOR has a list of water conservation technologies that can be applied in a commercial setting. This includes potential solutions for reducing water use in the kitchen and bathroom, and during sanitation and equipment cooling processes, and more.
WaterSense
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program provides resource materials to help you save water in your home, in your yard and at your business.
The commercial buildings section of their website offers detailed analysis and water conservation solutions for a variety of commercial building types, including:
- Commercial and Institutional Sector
- Office Buildings
- Hospitals
- Laboratories
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Educational Facilities
- Industrial
WaterSense resources for commercial buildings can help you:
- better understand water use and potential savings by facility type
- assess your facility’s water use and options to conserve water
- make the business case for investing in water conservation upgrades
Learn more about WaterSense best management practices to reduce overall water use.
Water restrictions
Local restrictions on water use
Some municipalities in Alberta have put voluntary or mandatory water use restrictions in place as part of a drought response or water conservation plan. Please check with your municipality or local water supplier for the latest information on restrictions in your area.
Resources
Contact
Connect with Environment and Protected Areas’ Outreach Services:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-3773 (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]