Water is a precious and finite resource. It is the lifeblood of the planet. Without a steady supply of clean, fresh water, all life, including human life, would cease to exist. Water powers the economy as it is a vital component in the manufacturing, agricultural, mining and resource extraction industries. Water is also a shared resource, so when you waste water you not only waste your own resource but also waste your neighbours. Therefore water conservation makes both sound environmental and economic policy.

Water conservation means doing the same with less. It is the management of water as a resource to eliminate waste and maximize the efficiency of use. Using water wisely reduces energy consumption, lowers water costs, extends the life of existing water and waste treatment facilities and minimizes the impact of the natural world.

The first step taken by the Town of Canmore on the road to conservation was the introduction of water meters into all homes and businesses between the years 1996 and 1998. Water meters provided the consumer with the ability to measure the amount of water consumed and correlate that consumption to cost – the more water used – the higher the water bill at the end of the month. Almost overnight, water use habits began to change and by the year 2000, per capita water consumption had dropped 21% from 333 litres per person per day to 262 litres per person per day.

Building on this conservation initiative, Town Council endorsed a further Water Conservation Goal Statement in 2003.  Using the year 2000 as the base year, by 2012, the Town of Canmore will:

• Reduce water distribution system losses from 22.4% to 10%
• Reduce residential water consumption on a per capita basis by 20%
• Reduce industrial, commercial and institutional consumption by 20% based on an average account usage.

The following year, the Town completed a Water Management Action Plan  to serve as a road map for achieving the Goal Statement. Key actions implemented to date as part of this plan are:

1. A Water Conservation Rebate Program as an incentive for residents to replace old water guzzling toilets and shower heads with new water efficient fixtures. This program is now complete.
2. Completion of Water Fixture Retrofit Program in municipal facilities.
3. Completion of annual Water Loss Audits and initiation of Leak Detection and Repair Program to reduce water system losses. 
4. Large Water Meter Inspection and Calibration Program.

What can you do?
Homeowners generally use water in two main areas of their home; the yard, and the bathroom. By implementing water saving measures in these areas, households can reduce water consumption by as much as 50%!

In the Bathroom:

1. Check toilets for leaks. A leaky toilet is not always noticeable and is one of the most common water wasters in the home. To detect if you have a leak, place a couple of drops of food colouring in the toilet tank water. Wait a couple of minutes – if you see coloured water seeping into the toilet bowl – you have a leak!
2. Install low flush toilets and low flow shower heads
3. Don’t run the water while brushing teeth or shaving.
4. Take a Shower rather than a bath, showers use much less water especially if you’ve installed a low-flow shower head!

Elsewhere Around the House:

1. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when you have full loads.
2. If washing dishes by hand, fill a basin for rinsing dishes rather than running water continuously.
3. Keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run the tap to get a drink of cold water.
4. Conversely, insulate your hot water pipes so hot water arrives at the tap faster.
5. Considering upgrading your appliances? Make sure to purchase water efficient models. Front load washing machines for example use ½ the water of a conventional top load machine.

In the Yard:

1. Watch the Weather and Water Less – Has it rained in the last week? If so put away the sprinkler, your lawn only needs 1 inch of water over the week to stay healthy. If you do need to water, use a timer on your outdoor faucet or place an upside down Frisbee in the path of your sprinkler so you can measure the amount of watering done. 
2. Time of Day is Important – Water in the early morning or late evening when it is cool and there is little or no wind. Most water applied in the heat of the day will be lost to evaporation and will do little to benefit your lawn or garden. Better yet, consider installing a drip irrigation system. This way water goes right to the roots of the plants where it is needed most. 
3. Use a Rain Barrel – to capture rain water from roof downspouts. Plants prefer rain water which is chlorine free and at just the right temperature. 
4. Limit Lawns - Consider replacing your grass with low water-use plants and ground covers. You will save water and time because this type of landscaping requires less maintenance. 
5. Use a Broom – rather than the hose to clean driveways, sidewalks and garage floors. Sweeping up dirt, debris and lawn clippings not only saves on water but also prevents these materials from making their way into the storm sewers where they can contaminate downstream creeks and streams.