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Did you know the average Canadian uses 120,000 litres of water per year?
It's easy to take water for granted, especially in an area surrounded by lakes. But remember, the next time you turnon the tap, the water has been treated to provide you with safe drinking water. When it goes down the drain, it again has to be treated with other waste before it is discharged into the environment.
Some small changes in our daily water habits can realize big savings:
MONEY
Processing water is an expensive job. Reducing water use can delay upsizing municipal water and sewage systems.
ENERGY
20% of a typical utility bill is for heating water in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen.
ENVIRONMENT
Reducing introduction of chlorine and other chemicals to the environment.
We need water for health and comfort. It is essential for survival. We must use it, but we must also learn not to misuse it. View the Water Efficiency Guide to see how you can apply the 4R's of Wise Water Use.
Water Conservation in Our Region
We can be proud of our community's efforts to conserve water.
The residents of this area are nationally recognized for their positive approach to water conservation. Continuing development of the use of reclaimed water to replace fresh water irrigation is a major step towards water conservation and environmental protection.
Coldstream has metered water for many years and Vernon introduced universal metering in 1992. The North Okanagan Water Authority is requiring water meters in new construction and commercial buildings. The City of Vernon's by-law for low consumption toilets is also the fixture of choice in 90% of the region's new construction.
The Water Stewardship Committee has been active in promoting water efficiency through school programs, newspaper articles, mall displays and other initiatives. An interpretive xeriscape display can now be seen at the Vernon RCMP detachment.
We can be proud of our efforts to date. But remember, using our water wisely will help us protect our environment and reduce the amount of water and wastewater we need to treat.
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