Making water conservation easy

Alert Labs customers have saved over 5 Million L of water in the last few months by identifying and fixing leaks. We can all do our part to waste less water.

The average Canadian family of four uses about 1000 L of water every day and the average American family around 1500 L. At the same time, less than 3% of the world water supply is fresh, and most of it is frozen in the Arctic and Antarctica. Globally, fresh water withdrawals have increased by about one per cent per year since the 1980s.

The good news is that many jurisdictions have recognized the importance of tracking down leaks to conserve our most important resource. Municipalities, such as the City of Guelph, have launched comprehensive water efficiency programs. 

Here are ten of our favourite ways to cut back on water use:

• Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge, rather than running the tap until it's cool enough to drink.
• Insulate your water pipes - you’ll get hot water faster.
• Only run your laundry when there is a full load.
• Consult the washing machine manual to make sure you're using it optimally.
• Take shorter showers – around 5 minutes or less.
• Water your plants early or late in the day to cut down on evaporation.
• Mulch around plants to help hold moisture in the soil.
• Use a broom to clean driveways and walkways instead of a hose.
• Fix your leaks.

For more great tips, the state of Arizona has created a guide with 100+ ideas to conserve water.