Markham is lucky to have access to fresh water - we shouldn't waste it!
Markham is lucky to have access to fresh water. But, we only have one source and share it with over 9 million people in Ontario and New York State. Water prices also keep going up. Being water efficient protects our environment. It keeps our drinking water supply safe for us and for future generations. It can also save you money!
Lower your water use by following the easy tips below.
Look for WaterSense and Energy Star labels!
WaterSense® and ENERGY STAR® are labelling programs that help you choose water-efficient and energy-efficient fixtures and appliances. WaterSense and Energy Star products are tested by third-parties to measure efficiency, performance, and quality.
You’ll find faucets, showerheads, and toilets with the WaterSense label in local stores. For dishwashers and clothes washers, Energy Star is the current rating system. Some stores have their own efficiency labels. WaterSense and Energy Star are still the most reliable choice.
Toilets can be water wasters!
Older toilets (like those installed before 1994) can use between 13 to 20 litres of water per flush. An average person flushes the toilet 5 times per day. Replacing a high-volume toilet is one of the best ways to reduce water use and save money.
New toilets are very efficient. WaterSense guidelines make single flush toilets use only 4.8 litres or less. Dual flush toilets use 6 litres, with a reduced flush of 4.1 litres or less.
Never use the toilet as a garbage bin! Items can block your home's plumbing system and lead to costly repairs for both you and the City. Find out what goes where!
Shorten Your Showers
Low-flow fixtures use higher pressure and much less water. Try replacing your showerheads to WaterSense low-flow showerheads. These showerheads use less than 7.6 litres per minute. They can save up to 60% of water while still holding strong water pressure. Efficient showerheads also reduce hot water use by 15%. This can save you money on your energy bill, too!
You should also shorten your showers to 5 to 7 minutes to limit water waste.
Slow the Flow!
One of the best ways to reduce water use at the tap is by installing an aerator. The aerator (the screw-on tip of the faucet nozzle) limits the flow rate of water from the faucet. A typical faucet releases about 9.5 litres of water per minute or more. Installing a low-cost WaterSense aerator can reduce water use to as little as 1.9 litres per minute.
Reducing flows also reduces hot water use. This leads to energy savings! Installing an aerator is simple and it doesn't cost much money. Retrofit all your faucets today!
Choose an Efficient Washing Machine
Older top loading washing machines can use between 150 to 250 litres of water per load. Wash your clothes in cold water when possible. This will lower the amount of energy used to heat your water.
New machines remove more water and cut down on drying time. This lowers your energy use. If you are going to buy an Energy Star clothes washer, look for a low Water Factor (WF). Water Factor measures water efficiency. The lower the number, the more efficient the appliance. The most common water-efficient clothes washer is the ENERGY STAR® qualified front-loading model.
Always run full loads and adjust the water level for load size. Many liquid laundry soaps are formulated for cold water cycles. They work just as well with cold water and save you money.
Fill up Your Dishwasher
It's easy to use a dishwasher efficiently. Be sure to scrape your plates into the Green Bin instead of rinsing them. Run full loads, and use the water/energy saving mode.
When buying a new dishwasher, think about buying a water-saving model. Energy Star dishwashers a use less than 16.1 litres of water per cycle.
Washing dishes by hand can use a lot of water if you leave the water running to rinse each item. Fill a sink with rinse water to prevent waste.
Stop Leaky Faucets
Slow drips add up fast and cost you money! One drop per second can waste up to 10,000 litres of water a year. Leaking faucets are often caused by a worn-out washer. Washers cost less than a dollar to replace. For more water savings, look for the WaterSense label when buying faucets and accessories. You can reduce water flow by 20% or more!
Leaking Toilets = Money Wasted
A leaking toilet could be costing you hundreds of dollars a year. They often go unnoticed, because you can’t see or hear the leak. A leaking toilet can waste 400 litres a day! Check for leaks by putting a few drops of food colouring in the toilet tank. If colour appears in the bowl after 15 to 30 minutes, you have a leak! Often, you can fix the leap by replacing the flapper in the tank.
You can fix leaks yourself using a repair guide, or you can hire a plumber. Alliance for Water Efficiency provides instructions and videos to help you get the job done. Check out the video from Alliance for Water Efficiency on finding and repairing toilet leaks.
Get a new, efficient humidifier
Your home's humidifier helps moisten dry indoor air. Humidifiers also help people with asthma to breathe more easily. They can reduce dry skin and irritation from dry air.
Did you know that a flow-through furnace humidifier can waste up to 190 litres of water every day? That's over $200 a year! There are models on the market that produce fewer than 10 litres of water a day. Look for water-efficient models when installing or replacing these units.
The best options are rotating disc humidifiers. These use textured discs to humidify furnace-heated air. These have high performance and low maintenance. There are no replacements parts, and little energy (4 Watts per Hour) or water is used.
Visit the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website or Desert Spring Products to learn more.
Recycling Water
Re-use your greywater! Greywater is wastewater from:
- Bathroom sinks
- Bathtubs
- Showers
- Clothes washers
You can install gray water re-use systems in new or existing buildings. These systems collect grey water in a storage tank. It’s then filtered, purified, and sent to toilet fixtures. Toilet flushing uses about 30% of daily water use in the home. For toilets, greywater is a good substitute for clean drinking water. You can save a lot of water and money!
Other Tips to Save On Indoor Water Use
- Don't leave the tap running when rinsing vegetables or brushing teeth
- Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it. Use it to water plants or for cleaning!
- Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster and won't waste water while it heats up.
- Rinse your razor in the sink pre-filled with a small amount of water. Don't run the tap.
- Keep a water jug in the fridge. This way you won’t have to run the tap until the water is cold.
- Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. It is for human waste only. All other items should be put in the garbage or recycled.