Water Matters Inside the Home
The three largest sources of water use in your home are showers and baths, toilet flushing and washing machine use. See below for some tips to reduce your water consumption at home.
Older, inefficient showerheads use an average of 15 litres of water per minute. By replacing your old showerhead with a new water efficient model (6.5 litres per minute or less), you can significantly reduce your water use.
Shortening the amount of time you spend in the shower can also significantly reduce the amount of water you and your family use on a daily basis. By reducing your shower time to 5 minutes, you can reduce your water usage to around 50 litres per shower.
Older, inefficient top-loading washing machines use an average of 125 litres per cycle, whereas newer hi-efficiency machines can use as little as 55 litres per wash cycle. Replacing your old inefficient top-loading washing machine with a new hi-efficiency model can save you water and energy. Maximize your laundry machine efficiency by washing only full loads of laundry or use the load size selector function to match the water level to the size of each load.
- A kitchen tap can flow as much as 12 litres of water per minute when fully open. By installing a tap aerator at a sink in your home, this amount can be reduced to as little as 3.8 litres per minute and save you an average of 69 litres per day.
- A tap aerator limits the flow of water from the tap by adding air to the water supply to maintain the desired pressure coming out of your tap. Tap aerators can quickly pay for themselves through significant water savings.
- Making small changes to your daily routine can also make a big difference on your water bill such as not letting the tap run while shaving or brushing your teeth.
Get an Indoor Water Saving Kit for $10! Kits are available at the 4th Floor of Abbotsford City Hall or the District of Mission Municipal Hall.
A leak in your home that drips once a second may not sound like a very significant problem; However, it can easily add up to as much as 16 bathtubs worth of wasted water in just one month. Be sure to replace worn washers and valve seals in household taps to keep water waste to a minimum. Leaks are not always visible and obvious to homeowners. As toilets age, and toilet components begin to degrade, it is common for toilets to leak significant volumes of water without anyone noticing.
Guide to Finding and Repairing Water Leaks
How to check if your toilet is leaking:
- carefully remove the toilet tank cover;
- pour a few drops of coloured food dye into the tank;
- wait a few minutes and then check the water in the toilet bowl (don’t flush the toilet during this time); and
- if the coloured dye has seeped into the water in the bowl, without having flushed the toilet, there is a leak.
Don't let the tap run unnecessarily. This includes turning off the tap when brushing teeth, shaving and washing hands.
Especially suited for older homes, this kit will help you use 15 to 20 percent less water, while saving money and energy! To view what's included in the kit click here.
Pick one up at Abbotsford City Hall - 4th Floor, or the District of Mission Municipal Hall. Kits are $10, including all applicable taxes.