Water Conservation Tips
Lower the Flow
Turn the tap off when you are brushing your teeth and use a low-flow showerhead to cut your waste water in half. Low-flow toilets give similar water conservation results.
Tap the Potential
It takes eight bottles of water to make a plastic water bottle, which may live in the landfill forever. So whenever and wherever possible, drink water from the tap. Keep a jug of water in the fridge so you won’t be tempted to run the tap for a cold drink.
You will also reduce your carbon footprint by drinking tap water instead of bottled water, as shipping bottled water across the country is a big drain on the environment.
Xeriscape
Drought-resistant native plants can save you time and money, and provide homes to helpful pollinators.
Dew it Right
Water your gardens in the evening or early morning when there is less evaporation.
Upgrade
When it is time to replace appliances that use water, buy “Energy Star” models. Front-loading washing machines use a fraction of the water required by conventional machines.
Drain Cleaner
Reduce your use of harmful chemicals. Fish and wildlife can experience reduced fertility, genetic deformities, immune system damage, increased incidence of tumors, and death as a result of toxins in waterways. The chemicals you pour down the drain, spray around your yard, or put into landfills eventually end up in water systems. Replace strong household cleaners with environmentally friendly products, such as baking soda and vinegar. Do not pour chemical-laden products, such as paints and solvents, down the drain. Take them, as well as other toxic wastes, such as electronics and used batteries, to your local toxic waste disposal area. Research the chemicals in your shampoos and soaps and try to find products that won’t harm wildlife. Eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides in your gardens. In fact, you can go even further by asking your municipal leaders to make your community pesticide-free. Approximately 156 Canadian municipalities have now banned the use of pesticides.
Dilute Your Water Footprint
In addition to cooking and bathing, water is used in the production of our food, paper, clothes and other products. Visit waterfootprint.org to find out how much water it takes to produce a variety of items. Challenge yourself or your friends and colleagues to reduce your water footprint.
Share Your Success
Let others know what you are doing to help conserve and protect water by recording your actions.
Make Your School a Blue School
Start a Blue School aquatic habitat project in your community. Find out more about this program and apply for funding from the Canadian Wildlife Federation by visiting WildEducation.org.
Adopt a River
In 2003, EarthWild International and Wildcanada.net compiled a list of the 10 most endangered rivers in Canada. You can help one of these rivers at risk, or adopt any river to help keep our ecosystems healthy.
Top 10 Rivers at Risk in Canada
*As Classified in 2003
- Petitcodiac River, N.B.
- Eastmain and Rupert rivers, Que.
- The Okanagan river, B.C.
- Taku and Iskut rivers, B.C. (tied for fourth place);
- Groundhog River, Ont.
- Milk River, Alta.
- Peel River, Yukon and N.W.T.
- Red River, Man.
- Churchill River, N.L.
- Bow River, Alta.
Learn more about the Adopt a River Program by visiting biosphere.ec.gc.ca and clicking on the ObservAction Network.
Support the Good Work of Groups That Work for Water. By working together, we can make a difference. Your donation to the Canadian Wildlife Federation is tax deductible. You can also support CWF by visiting our online store and purchasing some of our products for yourself or others. Visit cwf-fcf.org for more details about our water bottles, clothing line, cards and magazines.