All of the water on the earth is part of a cycle, and it will be used over and over again for millennia¹.  For example, did you know that Canmore withdraws Bow River water, treats it, uses it and then discharges treated wastewater back into the river where it flows downstream. Calgary repeats the processes done in Canmore, and is then followed by Medicine Hat and each of the other downstream communities.

Although Alberta does not currently have a government policy to allow water to be reused for a second purpose, it is easy to stop water from going down the drain at home and then use it for something else.  For example, water used for washing can be subsequently used for flushing the toilet or for watering plants. 

If household water is used for several activities, it has roughly the same water quality as other wastewater when it gets flushed down the drain to the water treatment plant.