News

July 1, 2014

Eco-Tip for the month of July: Water; a priceless resource

Water is a resource that we need to manage responsibly to leave to future generations. The average Canadian consumes a little more than 300 liters of water per day while the average African consumes 10 liters per day. In general, a person should consume between 20 and 50 liters of water per day to meet their needs. It is important to be aware of the waste that occurs and that water is a priceless resource that must be saved despite its current abundance.

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Consuming water a little more reasonably will benefit all our children and ensure them a secure future. Here are several tips that will help you dramatically reduce the use of drinkable water in the garden and inside the house:

 

 

 

 

arrosoirIn the garden:

In order to water the garden effectively and adequately, 3 aspects should be considered : the right time, the right way and the right tools. The ideal time to water plants is early in the morning or evening to avoid periods of intense sun. In addition, and ideally, with the exception of grass, avoid watering plant foliage. Watering close to the ground reduces evaporation. Make sure to water deeply and not just on the surface. Increasing watering time means having to water less often. Use the correct watering system, for example: use a soaker hose to water a cedar hedge or just use a watering can for flower boxes.

Some tips for the outdoors:

  • Collect rainwater with a rain barrel to water your flowerbeds.
  •  Avoid runoff on your property by creating a rain garden. You’ll find all the information to help you build your home rain garden on the SCHL website. (www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca)
  •  Add cedar mulch to flowerbeds or at the base of trees to help keep the soil cool and damp for a longer period, to prevent soil erosion and to control weed growth.
  •  Hoeing flowerbeds can loosen the soil and thus allow water to seep into the ground rather than run off the surface. Some people even claim that hoeing is the equivalent to two waterings!
  •  Select plants that are adapted to drought and our climate in your flowerbeds or replace grass in very warm areas. Perennials, shrubs and newly planted trees usually need water for a few weeks after planting, but once they take root in the right area, their water needs will be met with natural precipitation.
  •  Use larger pots for your window boxes and planters. Increase the soil volume, and by planting the right number of plants in each pot, you’ll reduce watering frequency because they’ll dry out less quickly.
  •  Select natural products or use low levels of pesticide. One gram of some herbicides can contaminate up to 10 million liters of water.
  •  To conserve water for the lawn, it is first of all necessary to adopt good agricultural practices including choosing an appropriate cutting height, practicing herbicycling, top dressing with compost and aerating and fertilizing with organic fertilizer. A lawn needs no more than 2.5 cm of water per week. If you have to water your lawn, place a measuring beaker on your lawn when watering to measure the watering time until it reaches 2.5cm.  This will ensure efficient watering.
  •  If you have a sprinkler system, make sure it is programmed and equipped with a rain gauge.
  •  Redirect water from gutters to lawns and flowerbeds.

 Some tips for the house:

  •  When you change your toilet, choose one with a reduced and/or dual-flush flow.
  •  Equip your shower head to a low flow and reduce your shower time.
  •  Check your faucets for leaks. A leaky faucet (one drop per second) can waste more than 20 gallons of water in one day.
  •  Fill the dishwasher and the washing machine at high capacity to maximize their use.
  •  Use a bucket of water and a sponge or a pressure washer to wash the car or house and not your garden hose. You’ll use up to 80 % less water.
  •  Use a broom to clean the driveway, sidewalk or terrace and not a water hose
  •  Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products that have the least amount of chemicals.

 

You’ll find all the municipal regulations regarding water usage if youclick here.