REMINDER: Water Consumption & Conservation– Water Wise Tips

Public Service Announcement
REMINDER: Water Consumption & Conservation– Water Wise Tips
March 20, 2023 – Iqaluit, Nunavut

The City of Iqaluit would like to remind residents this time of year is very important for the Lake Geraldine Reservoir. Until the snow melts and helps refill the reservoir, there is a limited amount of water available. We all need to reduce water usage where possible. Below are some Water Wise Tips that residents can follow, to help reduce water consumption:

• Reduce your water usage, be aware of the water you use and consider ways to use less. Talk to your family and members of your household about saving water.
• Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket or ashtray. Flushing can use up to 20 litres of water.
• Find and repair leaks in your water system. Taps and toilets are the most likely sources for water leakage. Replacing the flapper valve in your toilet tank is a good way to reduce water leaks.
• A tap leaking at the rate of one drop per second can waste about 10,000 litres of water per year. Repair dripping taps.
• Report leaks to your property manager, employer or call a handyman to fix leaks around the home.
• A leaking tap can freeze a sewer pipes during cold weather. Report dripping taps to your landlord to prevent sewer back-ups.
• Replace older model fixtures. WaterSense certified shower heads maintain high water pressure with reduced consumption.
• Upgrade appliances to high efficiency models, as top load washers use more water and detergent than front load washers for the same amount of laundry.
• Canadian’s water usage rate per person is second only to the United States. The average Canadian uses approximately 330 litres of water per day. Be aware of your water footprint and find ways to reduce consumption.

• Run the dishwasher only when full. You do not need to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Defrost food in the refrigerator instead of under running water. It is a safer way to handle food and reduces water consumption.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap to get cold water.
• A running tap can use approximately 10 litres of water per minute. Turn off taps when not in direct use.
• Use a refillable water bottle or choose one glass as your drinking glass for the day. This will save consumption by having less dishes to wash.
• On older model toilets, you can reduce the amount of water used per flush by placing a filled water bottle inside the water tank.
• Adding aerators to your faucets can reduce water consumption 25% to 50%.
• Wash fully loaded washing machines, on cold water when possible. A reduction of one load of laundry per week can save 50 litres of water per week.
• Use a glass of water when brushing your teeth instead of a running tap. You can save up to 10 litres of water per brushing.
• Turn off the tap when shaving, brushing your teeth. A running tap uses approximately 10 litres of water per minute.
• Wash vegetables and fruits in a basin of water instead of under running water.
• When washing dishes by hand use a filled second sink or basin to rinse dishes instead of a running tap. 5 minutes of dishwashing can use 40 litres of water for rinsing instead of
1.2 litres in a second sink or basin.
• Take showers instead of baths and reduce your shower time to 5 minutes or less. Older showerheads can use as much as 15 to 20 litres of water per minute.

The City thanks residents for their continued efforts to conserve our limited water resource.

##

For additional information, please contact:

Kent Driscoll
Communications and Customer Service Manager

City of Iqaluit 867-979-5607 | k.driscoll@iqaluit.ca