Water Works

This section contains an interesting cross section of water information, including how municipalities keep track of, and influence water use, tips for people with private wells on how to stretch their water supply in times of drought, plus little-known facts and myths about water.

Water conservation and the municipality

Nearly 75% of the population in Canada relies on municipal systems for a safe and secure supply of drinking water. And, while some regions do better than others, one quarter of urban centres in Canada do not treat their sewage.

Many communities are beginning to make the connection between the water that comes out of the tap and the water that goes down the drain. Water conservation is now being recognized as a necessary and beneficial step in keeping treatment costs within reason while ensuring that a reliable supply of fresh water is always available.

If all municipal consumers use less water, then municipal water and sewer services can be delivered more effectively. The more effective the treatment of sewage, the less likely will our beaches be closed in the summer each year due to water contamination.

Rates

One of the better ways to encourage water conservation is by changing water rate structures.

Constant and increasing block rates are best because the more you use, the more you pay. The good news is, the less you use, the more you save.

Strange as it may sound, it actually makes good economic sense to lobby for higher prices for another reason. Water conservation saves huge amounts of money by postponing, or even eliminating, the need for costly expansions to municipal water and sewer systems.

Water meters

It's essential to municipalities to know how much water consumers use in a given period of time. This information is used to determine the amount billed to each customer and it ensures that each customer only pays for the amount of water they consume. The information is also essential to your community's long-range infrastructure planning to ensure they will be able to meet customer demand in the future. Without accurate information on customer use, it is difficult to forecast future water use trends and customer needs.

Do meters influence water consumption in residential households? Yes! Studies have shown that households which are metered use less water than unmetered households, even without price increases. Users who are aware of their use repair leaking taps and toilets, and find ways to use water wisely in order to save money.

In Alberta, for example, Edmonton meters all residential water users, while Calgary is only partially metered. Metered users in both cities use about the same. However, the unmetered households in Calgary used about 50% more in a survey conducted in the mid-1980's.

If you do not have a meter, try using the water log to estimate your use.

Dollars and sense

An increasing number of municipalities are factoring a sewer surcharge into their water billings. A sewer surcharge reflects the fact that it often costs just as much or sometimes more to collect and treat sewage as it does to purify and pump drinking water to the consumer. For example, if the water component of your billing period is $50.00 and the sewer surcharge is 100% of use, then your total water bill – water use + sewer surcharge – is $100.00 ($50.00 + $50.00).

In fact, you save twice when you conserve water. In the example above, a $20.00 saving in water use translates into a total saving of $40.00 on your bill! This means that an investment in a water saving toilet could pay back in less than one year.

Peaks and valleys

Summer can present special problems for water utilities. In parts of Canada, summer use can be twice as high as winter averages – and sometimes higher during prolonged heat waves. The highest peak demand period is between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. when everyone is home cooking, cleaning, and watering the lawn.

Even if the utility has ample supply, it may not be able to pump the water fast enough during peak demand periods.

Reducing – or simply postponing – water use until after the peak can help a lot. It gives the reservoirs a chance to recharge and allows the municipality to maintain a safety margin which guarantees water flows and adequate pressures in case of a fire emergency.

Any measures that reduce the amount of water used will also minimize the amount of waste water released into sewers and – ultimately – into the water bodies we may rely on for our drinking water.

Keeping well

If you rely on a well, there's always the danger that water levels may drop. A season with low precipitation, or an influx of new neighbours, can leave you high and dry.

One safeguard is to use a cistern, which stores rain-water that runs off your roof. Cisterns can be as small as a barrel that catches water from a downspout or as large as an underground chamber or room in the basement that holds 20 000 litres or more.

Rain-water is usually very soft and free from dissolved minerals. It is ideal for washing dishes and clothes as well as for bathing and showering. However, cistern water should not be used for drinking. It may contain algae, suspended sediment from the roof, and other particulates.

Depending on how you plan to use the cistern, you may have to modify your plumbing system. The simplest approach is to pipe all cistern water directly to the hot water tank. The cold water tap would continue to draw water from the well or municipal system.

Greywater systems

If you live in an area where water shortages are common, the re-use of greywater may be an option to consider.

Greywater is the term used to describe the water which drains from household basins, sinks and bathtubs – as opposed to blackwater flushed down our toilets. Greywater can be used to water the garden, or can be piped to the toilet.

There are restrictions on greywater use in many municipalities. It's advisable to check with the local health department before proceeding with a greywater system.

Waterless wonders

If you experience extremely low water levels in your well during the summer months, you might consider converting to a micro-flush toilet which nearly eliminates water use altogether. These include the various composting units on the market and flush/composting combinations.

Look for a unit that incorporates a fan and ventilation system to prevent odours from back drafting into the living space.

Some composting systems use a conventional looking flush toilet which empties into a composting unit in the basement. These toilets have no tank and need only 1/3 litre (8 oz) of water per flush. That's more than a 95% reduction in water use over a conventional toilet. These systems are great for cottage and seasonal use, but are not recommended for year-round residential use.

[Water myths and facts]

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