Water
Water is another essential need for daily life and daily activities.
The ways in which we use household water are sometimes more wasteful than they need to be. Conserving such an important resource makes
sense if we are planning for a sustainable future. Water use in the Region of Waterloo is currently high enough that a pipeline from
Lake Erie will soon be needed to help supply our water. With a region-wide reduction in water use, the need for a pipeline won't be as immediate.
Did You Know?
- Up to 29 per cent of water in our home is flushed down the toilet. The washing machine is the second largest user of water indoors.
- Region of Waterloo water quality must always meet or better the health-related guidelines set by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Based on over 70,000 tests done on our water every year, the Medical Officer of Health for Waterloo Region is assured that our water is safe for human consumption.
- The Region's municipal water supply comes from two sources: groundwater and surface water. Groundwater is pumped from 126 wells that are located throughout the Region. Surface water from the Grand River is pumped to the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant where it is purified, disinfected and blended with groundwater before sending it to the area municipalities, for their distribution to residents of the Region.
Water can be used in many places inside the house and sometimes it is used more wastefully than it should be. If we take a more conservative stance on indoor water use, it will help to make the Region’s water resources available to the public for a longer time. Simple things like turning off the taps when brushing your teeth, installing water-saving shower heads and toilets are just some of the actions we can take to a more sustainable future for the Region.
Using water outside the house can be very wasteful but there are lots of ways to improve this. By making small changes to the ways we use water around the house, we can use our water more sustainably so it will be available for a longer time. Using a rain barrel to collect rainwater helps to reduce the amount of water from the tap needed to water the lawn and garden. Doing your watering during the cooler times of the day, and avoiding it during water shortages are good choices for responsible use.