Report identifies unnecessary waste of our freshwater resources
Project: Pollution Solutions
A recent report prepared by Environmental Defence Canada sheds light on water use and water waste in households in the Great Lakes region.
Comparison of water use by the Great Lakes states and provinces, reveals Ontario to be the largest water user, drawing 27% of the water taken annually from the Great Lakes. Most of the London area draws it's water from a pipeline that runs from Lake Huron and London's wastewater flows down the Thames River to Lake St. Clair and then on to Lake Erie. Residential water use in Canada was found to account for 53% of our overall water use so we all have a part to play in helping to conserve our freshwater resources.
Canadians use an average of 329L of water each day; that makes us amongst the highest water users per capita in the world, second only to the United States.
The report discusses our largest residential water uses, including toilets, showers, and washing machines. It breaks the uses down, discussing how much water is currently being used for each and how much water could potentially be conserved using available methods/technologies.
A few tips for you to help reduce the waste of water:
In the short term...
- Be aware of your water footprint - don't waste water in your daily activities, remember that every drop counts; turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, washing dishes or vegetables; take shorter showers; sweep your driveway/patio rather than rinsing it down; use a bucket when washing your car
- Harvest rainwater - rainwater can be captured with a rain barrel or cistern and used for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation, toilet flushing and washing; your plants will be happier to recieve natural rainwater than treated drinking water
- Reuse greywater - wastewater from a sink or shower can be captured and reused; keep a bucket in your sink to capture water when rinsing vegetables, pet dishes or any other time you're running the tap
In the long term...
- Have leaks fixed as soon as you notice them and have outdoor watering systems checked for leaks by a professional - leaks in outdoor watering systems often can go unnoticed and, in addition to wasting water, may result in contamination of the drinking water system from which they draw the water
- Install a high efficiency toilet - newer models use nearly 2/3 less water than older toilets; dual-flush toilets with variable flush volumes reduce water usage even further
- Install a high efficiency shower head - newer models use around 5L of water per minute whereas older models use about 14L per minute
- Install a high efficiency clothes washer
- Help replenish water supplies - reducing runoff and encouraging water infiltration helps replenish groundwater and local waterways; increase the proportion of permeable surfaces (natural vegetation, gravel, etc.) on your property, paying particular attention to your front yard where water runs off directly to the street and the storm drain; direct downspouts to landscaped areas; use gravel or permeable pavers for driveways and don't park cars in front yard if possible
- Xeriscape - use drought resistant plants in your landscaping and reduce lawn area to reduce your need for irrigation; many native plants will tolerate the local climate with little to no watering once established; choose plants native to prairie or desert environments
Find the full report Down the Drain: Water Conservation in the Great Lakes Basin from Environmental Defence Canada HERE
Find a recent article from the London Free Press discussing the report HERE
Source:
2010 Environmental Defence Canada. Down the Drain: Water Conservation in the Great Lakes Basin; Toronto.