City of Charlottetown

Check out the new Toilet Replacement Rebate Program

Water Conservation

Charlottetown Water Use

In 2010, Charlottetown Water and Sewer Utility pumped 6,703,744 m3 from the Winter River basin (1 m3 of water =1000 litres)
1,989,540 m3 of that water was for single-family homes
August was the month of highest water use - 618,012 m3 of water pumped into the City of Charlottetown
November was the month of lowest water use - 513,868 m3 of water pumped into the City of Charlottetown

Why Conserve?

Whatever your motivations there are many reasons to conserve water. When you reduce the amount of water you use at home you can reduce your water bill (for metered accounts, see below), and if you are reducing water that you heat (for showers, washing dishes and laundry) you will also notice a difference in your electricity bill.

Not only can conserving water save you money it also is part of living a sustainable lifestyle. Many people believe that fresh water is abundant or unlimited because of the water cycle. But this isn’t necessarily the case. When we extract water at a rate that cannot be replenished by precipitation the health of the watershed is impacted.

When we use less water

What can I do?

According to Environment Canada the average Canadian uses 329 litres per day . Canadians are the second highest water users in the world, second only to Americans. When compared to other developed countries with a high standard of living our water use is sometimes double or more (for example, in France the average water use per person is only 150 litres).

You can make a difference in our water demand by cutting out excessive water use and waste. Just remember, small changes add up – every drop counts!

Conserve Water Indoors

In the Bathroom

Consider replacing old toilets with flush volumes of 13L or more with a newer water-efficient model (6L or less)
Water savings per year: 45,990 litres (6L), 61,042 litres (dual-flush)*
If replacing your toilet is not an option, consider installing a toilet displacement device that decreases the volume of your tank – you can make your own by filling a water bottle half way with rocks and placing inside your toilet tank
Water savings per year: 6570 litres (reducing tank volume by 1 litre)*
Replace your standard showerhead with a low-flow showerhead (from 14.68 litres/minute to 5.69 litres/minute)
Water savings per year: 68,720 litres*
Energy savings per year: 254 litres of oil and $203.46 on your electricity bill*
Take shorter shower; if you shower for 7 minutes try reducing it to 5 minutes
Water savings per year 20,661 litres*
Energy savings per year 76 litres of oil and $61 on your electricity bill*
Install faucet aerators - this is a very easy and inexpensive fix
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, washing your face and shaving
Fix the leaks

*based on family of four

In the Kitchen

When buying or replacing a dishwasher consider one that has the Energy Star* or Water Sense label
Install a faucet aerator on your kitchen sink
Don't let the water run continuously when rinsing dishes or washing vegetables
Defrost foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave rather than under running water

*EnergyStar dishwashers use 15 litres per cycle compared to 22 litres for conventional dishwashers

For more tips on how you can save water indoors

Conserve Water Outdoors

Lawn and Garden

Cut out lawn watering completely – allow your grass to grow a bit longer to retain water
Water your garden in the cool hours of the morning or evening – use mulch to keep in moisture
Consider plants that require little to no water –xeriscaping

Recreation

Think hard before filling up the pool this year – does it get used enough to warrant that water use?
If you have a pool be sure to use a pool cover to eliminate evaporation
Use a bucket and sponge rather than a hose if you wash your car
Use a broom rather than a hose to clean your driveway

For more tips on how you can save water outdoors

Become a metered customer

Most single-family residential homes in Charlottetown are unmetered and billed a flat-rate for water and sewer service. If you want to take control of your water use at home and see changes in your water bill based on your consumption you can request a change to a metered rate.

Please visit our Volunteer Meter Program page

Links

Our Water Source – for information on the Winter River Watershed

Our Sustainable City – for information on Charlottetown’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP)

Monday, May 21, 2012 Water Conservation
	Toilet Rebate Program Water Use Calculator Volunteer Meter Program Winter River Watershed Water Utility Events