Water
At 329 litres per capita per day (source), Canada is ranked the second largest water consumer on the planet. British Columbians use more water per capita than residents of any other Canadian province.
Even though BC is blessed with abundant freshwater, that water is a very precious commodity that is under increasing stress from climate change and the demands of a growing population. Natural Resources Canada indicates that a leak of only one drop per second wastes about 9,000 litres of water per year (source), or the equivalent of 16 baths every month! Some simple measures can help to reduce our ‘water footprint.’
Examples of ways to save water around the home and in common areas of a multi-family dwelling can be found at eco-strata.com. For the most part, these involve low-cost, off-the-shelf technologies such as faucet aerators that can make a significant dent in water consumption (and energy in the case of hot-water savings).
Toilets
According to CMHC, toilets use more water than any other household device, accounting for about 30% of overall consumption. Ultra-low flow toilets, which use 6 litres of water or less, and dual-flush toilets, which have a short flush of 3 litres and a long flush of 6 litres, are widely available and contribute to significant water savings. In fact, they are now mandatory in the new BC Building Code for new homes. An alternative if you have a 13- or even a 20-litre toilet, and are not planning on changing the toilet quite yet, is to add some bricks or a plastic bottle filled with water, pebbles or sand in the tank. This will reduce the amount of water stored in the tank and save water with no loss of flushability.
Faucets and shower heads
After toilets, showerheads use the most water. Low-flow showerheads can reduce water use by as much as 50% (source) without changing water pressure. Look for showerheads with flows of 9.5 litres/minute (2.5 gallons/minute) or less, with the best at around 3.8 litres/minute (1 gallon/minute). Faucets in kitchens and bathrooms can be fitted or retrofitted with simple, inexpensive aerators with flows as low as 2 litres/minute (0.5 gallons/minute). Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators are widely available in hardware and plumbing stores. Showerheads cost somewhere between $10 and $50; faucet aerators typically cost between $2 and $10.
The City of Vancouver offers indoor and outdoor water-saver kits to Vancouver residents for $12 (retail value is approximately $30). Click here for details.
BC Hydro offers an Energy Saving Kit for low-income households who are BC Hydro customers. Call 1-800-BCHYDRO (224-9376), 7 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 5 pm Saturday.
Many water- and energy-saving devices are available on the Annron Services’ website.