Water-saving tips

Check out these tips on how you can conserve water. You can also download our water_tips.pdf and post it somewhere as a reminder.

You can view the full Water is Life! exhibit in the Leacock Building until June 30th, 2013, or take the Water is Life! audio walking tour, available on CKUT's Ecolibrium Radio Residency blog.

In the kitchen

  • Don’t leave the faucet running.
  • Install a low-flow faucet or aerator.
  • Soak pots and pans before washing and only wash full loads of dishes.
  • Rinse vegetables in a half-filled sink instead of running the water.
  • Keep a jug of cold water in the fridge install of running the water until it is cold.

In the bathroom 

65% of residential water is used in the bathroom!

  • Take shorter showers.
  • Install a low-flush toilet, a low-flow faucet or aerator, and a low-flow showerhead.
  • Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth, shave, or wash your face or hands. 
  • Fix leaky faucets and toilets.

 When doing laundry

  • Buy an energy-efficient, water-saving washing machine
  • Wash with cold water.
  • Only wash full loads.
  • Insulate your water pipes.

 

In the garden


In the summer, lawn watering and other outdoor uses can account for up to 50 percent of home water use. Studies show that as much as half of this outdoor use is wasteful!

  • Use a rain barrel to capture water for your garden.
  • On hot, sunny days, don’t water your garden at midday; most of that water will simply evaporate.
  • Sweep your driveway; don’t hose it down.
  • Wash your car with a bucket of water; don’t run the hose. 
  • Use sprinklers that produce large water droplets; a mist or fine spray will simply evaporate.

 Out and About

  • Carry a refillable water container with you to work, class or the gym.
  • Scope out the location of water fountains and taps near where you study or work.
  • Request tap water when you eat at a restaurant or attend a special event.
  • If you prefer the taste of filtered water, use a pitcher-type or other filtration device.

To see how much water you are using, use one of the many water footprint calculators online. 

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