Water Conservation Tips

Adult and child watering a tree with a garden hose

It’s easy to reduce water use at home. Applying these tips can help reduce water use and keep costs down.

Turn off the faucet while shaving, brushing your teeth and washing your hands and face.
Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair — you can save more than 175 litres a week.
Install aerators with flow restrictors on all faucets, and install low-flow showerheads.

Install ultra-low-flush toilets.
Replace or adjust the toilet flush handle if it allows more water to run than required.
Replace the toilet flapper if the toilet consistently makes a hissing or dripping sound.

Following sprinkling regulations, water the lawn during early summer mornings, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter to minimize evaporation.
Check your sprinkler to ensure water is not wasted on sidewalks, driveways or other non-required areas.
Install a rain shut-off device on automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation.
Collect the water used to rinse produce and re-use it to water plants.
Re-use the water when draining fish tanks to water plants — it’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use rainwater for the garden.
Weed the lawn and garden regularly because weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.
While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
Choose low-water plants for year-round landscape colour and save up to 2,000 litres per year.
Only water plants when necessary.

Check outdoor faucets, pipes and hoses for leaks.
Use a bucket, along with a sponge and hose nozzle to wash your vehicle to save about 300 litres per wash.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk to save 300 litres of water each time.
Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater. Rainwater can be used for watering your garden or washing outside surfaces. (Barrels are available for Richmond residents to purchase as a subsidized price. See Rain Barrel Program for more information.)

Use a bucket for regular household cleaning instead of running water.
Use a new, water-saving washing machine.
Run the washing machine and dishwasher only with full loads to save up to 3,700 litres per month.
Match the water level to the size of the load when doing laundry.
Fill the sink with wash water when washing dishes by hand. Do not let the water run continuously.
Wash produce in the sink or a pot filled with water instead of running water from the tap.

Insulate water pipes — you'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while waiting for it to heat up.
Check your quarterly water bill to track usage and get a feel for the impact of consumption habits.
Check for leaks around your pool and hot tub pumps, and check your pool for leaks periodically if you have an automatic refilling device.
Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save litres of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
Do not use recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks.
Learn how to read your water meter.