Green Tips: Water conservation tips in and around the home

2004·0.1 MB·English

by  Ontario Ministry of the Environment

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Ministry of tlie Ministere de April 2004
Environment I'Environment
Green
Facts
Water conservation tips in and around the home
Water is a precious resource - it's a lifeline for • Water lawns and gardens no more than once a
humans and for all living things. Unfortunately, we week - early morning or late eveningwatering
often take water for granted, believing that supplies reduces evaporation.
are unlimited. They're not. There is a limit to how
much and how fast water can be retrieved from • Two centimetres ofwater a week should be
sufficient foryour lawn (keep an empty container
lakes, rivers and underground aquifiers.
under the sprinkler to do the measurement).
Every one ofus can, and must, take action to • Washyour car near the lawn or shrubs to make
conserve water at home, whether it's outdoors or in greater use ofthe water.
the kitchen or bathroom.
• Cut grass less frequently and to longer lengths -
short cuts encourage evaporation.
Repair all leaks
One ofthe first thingsyou should do is find any leaky • Leave grass clippings on the lawn - theyretain
pipes or faucets. In addition to being annoying, they moisture and fertilize at the same time.
waste significant amounts ofwater and energy.
• Use compost, grass and leaves as mulch on
• A good way to check for leaks is to turn offall garden beds to prevent evaporation.
taps inyour home and check the water meter to
see ifwater is still flowing - ifit is, you've got a • Choose drought-resistant trees, plants and grasses
that need less water.
problem that should be fixed right away.
Make sure you don't have leaky toilets - they can In the kitchen
waste as much as 200 litres ofwater every day. • Don't thaw frozen foods under running water -
defrost them in the microwave or refrigerator.
• Toilet leaks can be detected by adding a few drops
offood colouring to the water in the toilet tanks - • Don't rinse food ordishes under the tap use
ifthe coloured water appears in the bowl, the somewater in a bowl or in the sink
toilet is leaking and should be repaired.
• Don't run the tap for cold water use ice cubes or
Outdoors keep ajug ofwater in the refrigerator.
• Don't water lawns and gardens or washyour car • Compost kitchen wastes instead ofusing a
when a municipal watershortage warning is in garburator
effect.
Ontario
PIBS3780e01
Ministry of the Ministere de
Environment I'Environment
• Add a water-saving aerator to the tap. For more information on water conservation, please
contact:
In the bathroom Public Information Centre
• Whetheryou're building a new home or remodeling 135 St. Clair Avenue West
yourbathroom, you should install low consumption Toronto, ON
toilets. M4V 1P5
Tel: [phone]
• Place a toilet dam in the toilet tank to save as Fax: [phone]
much as four litres a flush.
Toll-free number:
• Don't brush and rinse teeth with running water - 1-800-565-4923
use a glass. Internet:
www.ene.gov.on.ca
• Take a shower instead ofa bath.
• Ifyou do take a bath, use less water - a quarter full
should be enough.
• Shower for five minutes instead often - it will save
about 40 litres ofwater
• Ifyour shower has a single-handle control or shut-
offvalve, turn offthe flow while soaping or
shampooing.
• Ifthe valve that diverts water from the tub spout
to the showerhead is leaking, replace it.
• Water-saving shower heads can cut water use by
40 per cent and pay for themselves in as little as
four months.
Around the house
• Wash only full loads oflaundry.
• Save clothes that need hand washing to do it all at
once.
• Consider a more water-efficient washing machine -
some newer models have their drum on the side
and cut water use in half.
• Buywaterpurification orsofteningsystems that
arewater-efficient.