We know the summer season is short and sweet. From pool days to patio dinners, we have to make the most of the months we have. But we can’t help but notice the summer days are getting hotter and drier, creating more frequent drought conditions for us to manage. This brings to mind the importance of managing our water consumption and taking steps to encourage water conservation.
Did you know that the City of Calgary has a Water Efficiency Plan that sets a water consumption target of 350 litres per capita of water per day by 2033? And while our current overall LPCD is well in line with that goal, in the dry summer months, residential water consumption can go up as much as 50%! This can put stress on our system in an already dry and wildfire-prone time. The City provides various resources to Calgarians that outline actions and strategies to help manage water consumption during the summer months. https://www.calgary.ca/water/programs/water-efficiency-strategy.html.
The first place where we can conserve water is in our home. Every time you take a shower, flush the toilet, or wash your dishes you have the opportunity to conserve water. Some quick and inexpensive ways to reduce water use in your home include:
• Fix Leaky Taps and Toilets: Check toilets and faucets for leaks every six months.
• Install Low-Flow Faucets, Showerheads, and Toilets: Low water use fixtures conserve water while maintaining the same level of performance
• Wash Full Loads and Skip the Extra Rinse: Wash only full loads of laundry. Set the water level appropriately if you must wash a small load of laundry.
The second place where water conservation measures can have an impact is your yard. A water-efficient yard can save 30% to 40% of your water use in the summer. This can include:
• Rain Barrels: Using a rain barrel is a great way to capture and reuse rainwater in your yard. Capturing rainwater helps to reduce the amount of rainwater runoff entering the stormwater system and flowing into our creeks and rivers.
• Be YardSmart: YardSmart’s resources and practical advice help Calgarians establish and maintain yards and gardens that are well suited to Calgary’s growing conditions and use less water. YardSmart gardens are also pollinator friendly and can provide food and habitat for bees and butterflies.
• Limit Your Lawn: There are more drought tolerant alternatives to traditional lawn like micro clover or fescue grasses. Alternatively, consider replacing a portion of your lawn with hardy groundcovers, beautiful perennials, or trees and shrubs to be more water wise, attract pollinators, and increase year-round interest in your garden.
If you have ideas you want to share on how to prioritize water conservation or if you want to get involved and be a part of making Mount Pleasant a greener community, we would love to have you join the committee. Please email [email protected] for more information or to get added to our email list; you can also find us on the Mount Pleasant Community Association page.
Have a great month,
The MPCA Green Initiatives Committee
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