Water Conservation

• Turn off the water when shaving, brushing teeth, and washing dishes. This can save 10 to 40 litres/day.
• Check for leaky toilets and replace older bathroom faucet nozzles.
• Install low flow toilets – they can save 6 to 14 litres per flush while low flow showerheads can save 8 litres/minute.
• Wash produce in a pan half-filled with water instead of using a strainer. Use this water for household plants.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load.

• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean the driveway and sidewalk. A hose uses 23 litres/minute.
• Use a bucket of soapy water to wash your car and use the hose only for rinsing.
• Wash your car using soap and water from a bucket. The hose uses 23 litres/minute, but using a bucket saves you at least 2 minutes’ worth of water (46 litres).
• Water the garden during early morning or evening hours when temperatures are cooler to avoid evaporation.
• Grow the grass at least 2 to 3 inches. Taller grass shades new growth and reduces evaporation.
• An hour of sprinkling uses about 1300 litres of water.
• Use a Rain Barrel to collect free water from your roof for your garden.

• When you’re craving a cool glass of water, don’t run the faucet until the water gets cold. Try keeping a jug of water in the fridge. This way you can have a cold glass of water whenever you like!
• Remove weeds in your lawn and garden. This reduces competition for water while making the rest of the yard look great!
• Plant a water wise garden, which contains plants that need little water and can cope with long dry spells. Placing mulch in your garden is also a good way to conserve water. It reduces erosion and discourages weeds. Spread grass clippings or other mulch materials around the base of plants and shrubs.
• Reduce your shower by 5 minutes. This can save up to 100 litres of water.

You can take steps to protect your water supply and to deal with a dry well. Below are some suggestions for private well-users to avoid unpleasant surprises and have peace of mind:

• Check your water level, if you haven’t already
• Consider speaking to a qualified local water technician about installing a well depth monitor to notify you when your well reaches a lower-than-normal level
• Work with one of the local water companies or a group of neighbours to coordinate tanker truck deliveries or create communal pump and storage systems
• Consider purchasing a storage tank that will work in coordination with the natural recharge capacity of your well and will help to protect you from sudden water outages
• Remember that water quality and characteristics can be affected when the water table changes drastically, this may be a first indicator that water levels are low
• Talk to neighbours, especially if you are on a shared well or a shared aquifer, to agree on water conservation strategies and share updates on the level of the well
• Learn more tips about being “Wellsmart” at WellSmart or look in the Bowen Phone Book under “Water Systems”

Read some more suggestions for conserving water here.