Water Use

Low-Flow Shower Heads and Aerators

By installing low-flow showerheads and aerators (small caps that fit over faucets), you can reduce water use by up to 50 per cent but still have great water pressure while you save. And while you're saving, try taking a 5-minute shower – bet you didn't know that reducing showering time by 1 minute can save about 1,000 gallons of water a year! The Region of Peel, through Water Smart Peel, has water wise kits available that have a high quality showerhead, multiple aerators and toilet jams for only $5 per kit. Visit the Region to pick up yours today!

To help conserve water, turn off the tap while you shave or brush your teeth. Try partially filling your sink when shaving or filling a cup of water to rinse your mouth after brushing. Remember, every little bit helps.

Reducing Water Use in Toilets

Old toilets are notorious for using large amounts of water. In fact, a toilet installed before 1980 uses 5-7 gallons of water per flush. Even toilets installed between 1980 and 1993 use twice the water as the newer models that use only 1.6 gallons per flush. But you can reduce water consumption in an old toilet without buying a new one. Install a "toilet jam". This is a plastic, quart-sized container you fill with water and place inside the toilet's tank. By taking up space in the tank, the toilet jam can displace 10 gallons or more of water a day that saves you when the water bill comes.

Trash goes in the trash can. Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket, it wastes water and ends up depositing all kinds of awful garbage in our Regional water system.

Water Heating Efficiency

To help save on heating costs, reduce you hot water temperature to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. By turning down the temperature, you can reduce your energy use by up to 15%. On gas water heaters, thermostats are generally visible dials at the bottom of the unit with clearly marked settings of High, Medium, and Low. If your water heater is electric, turn off the power at the circuit breaker before removing the access panels and making the adjustments. If you cannot find your heater’s thermostat or are unsure of how to adjust its settings, call a professional for assistance.

If you are heating water for tea or coffee, use an electric kettle. Electric kettles use less energy heating water than a stove, generating great energy savings.
To help increase your water heater's efficiency, wrap your water heater's storage tank with specially made insulation. These insulating kits or "tank blankets" are available at most hardware and building stores. You'll reduce heat loss, reduce energy use, and increase the money in your pocket!

And while you're insulating the storage tank, insulate hot water pipes that are accessible as well. Hot water pipe runs are long and may travel through cool areas of the home. By wrapping them in specially made insulation, water will remain heated as it travels from the storage tank.

To ensure your hot water storage tank is running at top performance, drain a pail of water from your water heater's storage tank every three months. This allows residue at the bottom of tank to escape and the storage tank work more efficiently.

Laundry the Energy Efficient Way

Next time you're doing your laundry, reduce the water temperature of the washer to medium or cold levels. Modern detergents are capable of working equally well in cold or hot water. By using cooler water, you can save about 65% of the energy you would have used with a hot wash/warm rinse.

When purchasing a new washer, think about a front-loading washer. Most high efficiency front-loading washers use 60% less energy and 40% less water than conventional top-loading washers.

Revised: Wednesday July 15 2009