Water Conservation at Home

For residents of Eastern Ontario, it can be easy to take freshwater availability - for drinking, bathing, cleaning -  for granted. However, access to sufficient water is not always a given, particularly during periods of severe drought. Indeed, climate projections suggest that drought frequency and severity will increase in coming years, placing increasing importance on the implementation of water conservation practices.

Why Conserve Water?

For households that rely on private wells for water, water conservation practices can be critical for avoiding periods of insufficient water supply. During dry summer months, it is becoming increasingly common for well supplies to fail to meet household demand. Importantly, prioritizing water conservation can also be an effective way to reduce energy costs and lower monthly utility bills, both for homeowners (and even renters) with access to municipal water systems and those using private wells/intakes. Lastly, these practices are key for conserving freshwater suppliers for future generations, particularly under current climate change predictions.

Ways to Conserve Water at Home

Water conservation at home can be tracked both inside and outside the house. Below is a list of suggestions to cut back on household water use:

Conserving Water Indoors:

1. Always identify and address water leaks in a prompt manner. Water lost through plumbing leaks can vastly increase a household's water use.
2. Consider upgrading household appliances to water-efficient versions. This can include: toilets, dishwashers, washing machines... and even shower heads!
3. Start making small (but impactful) changes including:
   
   1. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth.
   2. Running the dishwasher only when it is full of dirty dishes.
   3. Waiting to run the washing machine until a full load of laundry has accumulated.
   4. Taking shorter showers or turning off the water while applying shampoo. Shower times can be a great way to pay attention to shower length.

Conserving Water Outdoors

1. Install a rain barrel to capture rainwater for use in gardening.
2. Design gardens and landscapes around native, locally-adapted, and drought-tolerant plants that will require less added irrigation.
3. Consider reducing lawn space and replacing traditional grass with native vegetation. The deeper root systems of many of these plants require less watering and help to maintain moisture within the soil. As an example, some homeowners replace their traditional lawn with native clover.
4. Apply mulch around gardens, flower beds and trees to help maintain moisture (and thereby reducing the need for watering).
5. Practice shutting off the outdoor tap when the hose is not in use.
6. Consider sweeping outdoor surfaces (such as patios) to keep them clean rather than rinsing them with a hose.
7. Research how to install a rain garden, in order to make better use of rainwater in gardening and landscaping practices.

In practice, private water conservation is often a manner of identifying and altering small habits around the home. However, investigating water efficient appliances - including possible incentives or rebates that your local municipality might offer - can also greatly reduce a household's water consumption. For more resources on water conservation at home, please visit the following links:

1. Utilities Kingston Water Conservation Programs.
   (includes information on a demonstration water conservation garden, a rain barrel program and water efficiency retrofit incentives for local residents).
2. Loyalist Township Water Conservation Incentives for Residents.
3. Utilities Kingston - Tips on Detecting Household Leaks.
4. City of Toronto - Tips on Water efficient Landscaping.
5. Cataraqui Conservation - Article on Landscaping for Source Water Protection.
6. Toronto Region Conservation Authority's guide to Rain Gardens.