Use Water Wisely

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Canadians waste a lot of water. We use on the average about 335 litres of water per person, per day – more than twice as much as Europeans.

It's easy to take water for granted. Whenever we turn on the tap, water comes out – pure, clean, drinkable water. What most of us don't realize is that every drop of water that comes out of the tap has been carefully treated to remove impurities and make it safe for drinking. Processing all that water is an expensive job.

You have a stake in the future of your water

Water isn't just used – it's recycled and re-used. Eventually, the same water that is flushed down our toilets or poured down our drains returns to our rivers and lakes via wastewater treatment facilities. From there, water is again purified in water treatment plants before returning to our taps.

The less water we use, or abuse, the less we degrade this precious resource, and the less money we have to spend bringing our water resource back to an acceptable standard.

To ensure that the water coming out of your taps tomorrow is clean and of good quality, USE WATER WISELY TODAY.

By using water wisely, you will:

• Save water:
  Canada's water supply is not endless. Population growth, rising pollution and global warming are shrinking the usable supply.
  
  
• Save money:
  If you use less water it will cost you less, both for water and for wastewater treatment.
  
  
• Save energy:
  Hot water for showers, laundry and washing dishes uses energy, in fact some 20% of the typical energy bill.

Reduce, repair, retrofit...

By following the three golden rules for the wise use of water – reduce, repair, and retrofit – you can cut your water use nearly in half.

• Reduce:
  By making small changes to water use habits and by installing water-saving devices, you can significantly reduce the amount of water you use.
  
  
• Repair:
  Regularly check toilets, pipes and faucets for leaks and repair immediately. One small leak can waste thousands of litres of water a year.
  
  
• Retrofit:
  Retrofit means adapting or replacing an older, less water efficient fixture or appliance with one of the many water-saving devices now on the market.

REMEMBER, the WISE USE OF WATER will save you money and help improve the environment.

An environmental citizen uses water wisely
For more information, contact:
Enquiry Centre, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H3
Toll free: 1-800-668-6767