By Guest Writer Abbi Johnston
Did you know that only about 1% of the Earth’s water is freshwater suitable for consumption? With 97% being saltwater and 2% being frozen in glaciers and ice caps, it puts into perspective just how precious this resource is. And of the 1% of freshwater that is usable, agriculture takes up 30% of that.
These and other water conservation facts were presented in a recent Live Green Toronto virtual seminar entitled Every Drop Counts: Water Conservation for the Home and Garden. The two presenters were Bradley Fletcher and Garth Cole from Toronto Water and the City of Toronto. Read on to learn more about conserving water.
Why save water?
Saving money is one thing that can inspire most of us to make small changes. According to the seminar presenters, saving 3,700 liters of water per month could save you up to $190. Although this might seem like a big target to hit, here are two things that could be using a lot of excess water in your home:
- A leaky toilet can waste about 375 liters of water per week.
- A leaky garden hose or faucet can waste about 400 liters of water per week.
Ensuring that your plumbing is sound can not only save you money over time but will also conserve a lot of water. Other ways to conserve water indoors: install low-flow showerheads or flow restrictors, take shorter showers, turn the water off while brushing your teeth or shaving, run dish/clothes washers only when full, and if washing dishes by hand, don’t run the water the entire time. Scrub them, then rinse them.
And speaking of garden hoses, running your hose for just one minute can use up an estimated 9-17 gallons (36-64 liters) of water. So keep that in mind when using a hose to water your garden.
Water-efficient landscaping
You can reduce water use and still maintain a healthy, vibrant green space. Here are some tips to help save water but also promote plant growth:
- Reduce the amount of lawn you have. Lawns are ecological deserts and take lots of water to stay green through our increasingly hot, dry summers. Low-maintenance lawn replacements include stone or brick patios, mulched areas, perennial beds with native plants or other non-invasive perennials that don’t need a lot of water/attention, and shrubs. You could also replace parts of your lawn with native ground covers like sweet woodruff (avoid invasive ones like periwinkle).
- When possible, water your lawn and garden in the morning. Watering at midday is inefficient as water evaporates more quickly, and watering late in the day can lead to fungal diseases.
- Water deeply (one inch of water) once per week for a healthy, green lawn.
- Place something that is about an inch tall (like a tuna can) on your lawn, and as your sprinkler runs or you water with a garden hose, watch to see when the tin fills up. Leave the tin out when it rains and if it fills halfway up, then you can water another half inch to work with nature.
- Aerate your lawn to help water reach the roots of the grass. You don’t have to pay someone to do this; consider buying aeration sandals instead.
- Set your lawnmower blade higher – the extra length provides more shade for the roots, which keeps them from drying out as quickly.
- Mow your lawn when the grass is dry. If you mow when it’s wet, you will clog your mower and leave wet clumps that can smother your grass.
- Leave dry grass clippings behind. They can help to prevent moisture loss and control weeds.
- Plant native plants and trees. When plants are adapted to the local climate and soil, they are much less likely to need coddling (extra water and fertilizer). Plus they provide shelter and food for native pollinators like birds, bees, and butterflies.
- If you have a vegetable garden or are thinking of starting one, some tips for being water-conscious:
- Before planting, level your vegetable bed to keep water near the roots.
- Group vegetables and herbs by moisture needs (typically indicated on the plastic tags when you purchase plants).
- Keep in mind that perennial vegetables (rhubarb, asparagus) need little to no water. Herbs like rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme also thrive in hot, dry conditions.
- Add mulch around plants like tomatoes, peppers, and squash. You can use straw, leaves, mulch purchased from a store or plant nursery, or Clean North mulch given out each June and August.
- Use a rain barrel under your downspout to capture rain flowing from your roof.
- Add 2.5 cm/1 inch of water one or two days per week to encourage deep root growth.
- Water at the base of the stem rather than the foliage to help prevent fungal diseases.
- Avoid using a sprinkler to water veggies as it will water them more than required.
Washing your car wisely
Use a commercial car wash facility instead of washing your car in your driveway. Commercial car wash facilities are designed to minimize the amount of water used to wash each vehicle and to filter and reuse water.
Plus if soap or chemicals you use to wash your car in your driveway end up in the storm sewers, you will be polluting local waterways.
What about pools and hot tubs?
The reality is swimming pools and hot tubs use a lot of water. However, we all make choices in being green, and if you choose to have a pool or hot tub and focus your green efforts in another area of your life, we get it!
The key thing to remember is chlorinated water cannot be dumped into a storm sewer. Products available at pool/spa stores can help de-chlorinate your pool or hot tub water before you drain them.
One final tip…buy used clothes!
New clothing can take a lot of water to manufacture! By buying used whenever possible, you reduce pressure on water resources. You may be surprised to learn that organic cotton is especially thirsty! It takes more than twice the water to produce because it comes from plants that are not genetically modified to be more productive.
Remember that everything you do for sustainability makes an impact. Some of these changes presented here may seem small, but when you think about many people making the same changes, the collective difference can have a big impact.
If you’re interested in watching the Live Green Toronto presentation, follow this link: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/live-green-toronto/environmental-events/ and scroll to the bottom.
Got a question about how to live greener? Email us at info@cleannorth.org.
