Water Conservation Tips for Earth Day 2017!

April 22nd 2017 is Earth Day, and we’d like to encourage all Canadians to take part in the local activities around their municipality. However, while planting trees and picking up garbage are both excellent ways to help acknowledge this important day, what’s even more vital is the everyday changes Canadians make to their lives, here are some water conservation tips to start.

Wash Efficiently.

When it comes to getting clean, there are a variety of ways that Albertans go about scrubbing and shampooing. Some zip in and out of the shower in under 5 minutes, other Albertans shower until the water runs cold. Many enjoy a long soak in the tub, but some only have time for a quick bath. In general, this is one where it’s best to be on the extremes. A quick shower that lasts under 8 minutes is the most water efficient option for getting squeaky clean. If you want to take your time — more than 10 minutes in the hot water, you’ll probably be most efficient by choosing a bath.

Garden Wisely.

Talk with a local landscaper or garden centre to find natural plants which are native to your area. Plants which evolved to grow in the Calgary area will need significantly less watering as they’re well adapted to surviving in our climate. Trees and shrubs also need less water than grass. Take a walk in Fish Creek Park or Prince’s Island Park for ideas.

Repair Leaks!

Dripping faucets and running toilets can use up a lot of water over time. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if you have any leaks if the drip is slow. Here are a few lifehacks to find out! 1. Put a cup underneath your faucet, if there’s any water in it after an hour or two, you have a leak. 2. Drip ten drops of food colouring into the tank of your toilet. If any colour has leaked into the bowl after an hour or so, then your toilet is running. 3. Send everyone out of the house for a few hours and check your water metre before you leave. Taking a picture with your phone is a great way to know exactly what it read before you left. When you get back home (after at least two hours), see if it’s gone up. If you find a leak anywhere, call your local, Calgary plumber!

This Earth Day try to do more than just participate for 24 hours. Make lasting changes that will help the environment today, tomorrow, and every day after that, using these water conservation tips. If you need making your home more water efficient, or need a friendly Calgary plumber to come find a leak, give the experts at Plumbing Paramedics a call!