Save Water Now

The tips presented below were mainly adapted from the homeowners’ guide developed
by Instant Save Conservation (www.instantsaveja.com).

• Inspect ALL piping, toilets and faucets for leaks.
• Learn how to read your meter to monitor your water use. Tip! Shut off water using equipment and monitor meter after 5 minutes, if dial or digits are still moving, you may have a leak! According to the NWC, approximately 10% of water used at home is wasted because of leaks. A leak of one drop per second, wastes 2,400 gallons per year!
• Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. With large properties, have your plumber install lock-off valves at various sections.
• Replace inefficient fixtures with water saving fixtures that are either Water Sense Labelled or use 20-25% less water than standard units. According to the NWC, water consumption at home can be reduced by as much as 30% by using proper water saving devices and good conservation practices.
• Install Sediment filters, which are essential in reducing the wear and tear on the valves and seals of your plumbing equipment and avoids costly leaks and repairs.
• Install a water softener or lime scale inhibitor, which will prevent calcium and magnesium build-up in your plumbing system reducing leaks and maintenance costs while giving your fixtures a longer life.

• Look out for efficiency rated and labelled water fixtures as guided by the flow rates (GPM or GPF) stated below e.g., Energy Star and Water Sense labels.

– Showerheads should use less than 2.00 Gallons per Minute (GPM)

– Toilets should use less than or equal to 1.28 Gallons per Flush (GPF)

– Faucets should shut-off instantly when not engaged or install aerators using less than 1.5 GPM

• Check all toilets for leaks. To do this, use a colour dye in your toilet tank. If the colour is visible in the bowl, you have a leak and should make the necessary repairs.

• Install water efficient faucets or aerators, which use less than 1.5 GPM.
• Replace old dishwashers with an Energy Star appliance and save, on average, 3,870 gallons of water over its lifetime.

• Replace old washers with an Energy Star appliance that uses between 18 and 25 gallons per load. Older washers use up to 40 gallons per load.
• Reroute greywater from the washing machine to water the garden by installing the necessary plumbing fixtures.

• Install gutters on roof and storage tanks (or construct a cistern) to capture rainwater runoff. Water storage should have the capacity for 3 – 5 days of water supply or at least 700 gallons or 3,150 litres.  Connect your rooftop rainwater harvesting system to the plumbing for toilets and washing machine (dual reticulation).
• Install drip technology to irrigate the garden.
• When using a garden hose to water the lawn be sure to add a hose nozzle to reduce the flow and shut off when not needed or use auto shut-off nozzles.
• For outdoor pools, be sure to cover them to prevent evaporation when not in use. Clean your swimming pool filter often to prevent having to change the water.
• Plan your landscape and gardens to minimize the need for water.