Water Conservation

Here in Vancouver, where we are surrounded by waterways and often experience mild, wet winters, we can easily forget that water is a precious and limited resource. In fact, only 3% of the world's water is fresh, and less than one third of 1% is available for human use.

Whether we turn on our faucets or set out our sprinklers, the water that spills out is fresh, potable water that comes from rain and snowmelt collected in three mountainous reservoirs: the Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam reservoirs. During the winter months, when rain and snow are plentiful, these reservoirs fill to capacity. In the dry summer months, however, we use more water and use it faster than our reservoirs can refill. This is why we must be careful with the water we use and prevent summertime water shortages.

Beyond meeting consumer demand, there are some real money matters to consider for using water wisely. The cost of water not only involves the cost of maintaining infrastructure for water supply, but also the cost of treating and disposing of waste water. In addition, because some of the water in your home is heated, water efficiency can help you save on your energy bills. Becoming more water efficient reduces the full scope of these water costs.

[top]

Environment

Supporting the sustainable use of water resources for future generations is an important goal for the City of Vancouver. Whether it is managing for efficient water use or safeguarding our city's natural waterways, there are a number of environmental initiatives that are aimed at caring for this precious resource.

At a turn of the tap, water is available for our many uses, making it easy to take this valuable resource for granted. The truth is our water comes from reservoirs that have a limited capacity and rely on winter rains to fill them. By learning how to use water more efficiently and wisely, you can do your part to prevent summertime water shortages and help defer the need to develop new sources of water. Tap into the City's water conservation programs to find out how you can use water efficiently and save money too.

[top]

[top]