Why should we think about water conservation?
Being mindful of how we use water today helps us ensure future generations have the water they need. There are also many benefits for Rocky View County today.
- We can help the Bow and Elbow rivers by only taking what we need.
- Save money on water bills by reducing how much we must treat and delivering.
- Reduces pressure on our water treatment infrastructure.
- Saves energy needed to treat and delivery water.
- Saves energy by reducing the amount of hot water you have to heat (shorter showers, full loads dishwasher and clothes washer)
- Increases our resiliency to climate change.
- Ensures our downstream neighbours have enough.
*When buying new water using fixture look for flow rates and the WaterSense label
Residential Plumbing Fixtures
- Residential Toilets WaterSense labeled single or dual-flush toilets
- Residential Showerheads WaterSense labeled fixed and hand-held showerheads. Typical flow rate is 7.6 Litres (2.0 US gallons) per minute.
- Residential Lavatory Faucets WaterSense labeled residential lavatory faucets that meet the most current EPA approved High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Specification.
- Residential Kitchen Faucets A kitchen faucet with a flow capacity/maximum flow rate of not more than 5.7 Litres (1.5 US gallons) per minute.
- Residential Water Conserving Appliances Residential Dishwasher ENERGY STAR certified residential dishwashers.
- Residential Clothes Washer ENERGY STAR certified front and top-load clothes washers.
Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Plumbing Fixtures
- Toilets Commercial or flushometer-valve toilets WaterSense labeled single or dual-flush flushometer-valve toilets.
- Commercial Urinals WaterSense labeled urinals.
- Public Lavatory Faucets A public lavatory faucet that meets Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings requirement of a maximum flow rate of 1.8 Litres (0.5 US gallons) per minute.
- Commercial Showerheads A WaterSense certified showerhead or a showerhead with a flow capacity/maximum flow rate of not more than 7.6 Litres (2.0 US gallons) per minute.
- Note: WaterSense and ENERGY STAR are labeling system to help consumers compare the most efficient products. When technology improves to reduce water use these rating systems also update please check to ensure your using the current flow rates in your product selection.
What can you do now to conserve water
- Outdoor watering should be done in the early morning or later evening to avoid excessive evaporation.
- Collect rainwater for plant, trees and shrub watering.
- Clean your driveway and sidewalks with a broom not a hose.
- Put mulch around your plants to hold water in.
- Use a shut off nozzle on your hoses.
- Check for leaking taps/faucets.
- Raise your lawn mower blades to not cut grass too short.
- Create a watering schedule for your plants and grass.
- Add Rain sensors on your sprinkler systems.
- Buy drought resistant plants.
- Run full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Avoid refilling pools and hot tubs unnecessarily.
- Shut the water off when brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Don’t waste unfinished drinking water share it with your plants.
- Take shorter showers.
- Consider Landscaping and Trees or gardening in a way that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation – a process called Nature Scaping through the use of native plants and drought resistant grasses.
- Most types of ornamental lawn grass go dormant when it gets too hot. It is ok to let the grass go brown during the peak of summer heat.