My Everyday Water Decisions Quiz

The City of Calgary notes that a low flow toilet uses 6 litres per flush. Compared to a regular flow toilet using up to 25 litres per flush!

The City of Calgary notes that low flow showerheads use 40 litres every 5 minutes, compared to regular showerheads using 60 litres every 5 minutes.

The creation of plastic is a process being criticized for its oil and water intensive demands. Based on a study in 2011, it takes 5.3 litres of water to create one single use plastic water bottle.

Rain barrels collect rainfall that can be used to water outdoor or indoor non edible plants, reducing the need to rely on tap water. Bioswales receive water from diversions, capturing and filtering water to reduce pooling on impermeable surfaces such as roads. Rain gardens improve water quality by filtering out pollutants, and recharge groundwater.

Planting drought resistant plants, or using a rain barrel to collect water for plants in need of regular watering are both good examples of reducing your water demand on local water supply systems.

Diets are culturally relative and regionally informed, reflecting traditions, environments, and resources of different communities. Understanding and respecting different diets while striving for sustainable lifestyles is key to promoting balance between culture and the environment.

Plumbing leaks represent inefficient use of water. Not only do leaks increase your water bill, but they can also cause greater infrastructural integrity problems in your home. Consider hiring a professional to check buried and hidden plumping

Contrary to popular belief, running a dishwasher on full loads is significantly more water efficient. Running the tap to wash by hand can use 6 litres of water per minute, versus an energy start certified dishwasher using 15 litres of water per load.

Cars consume a sneaky amount of water. Normally when people think of cars, the environmental impact coming first to mind is fuel consumption. The extraction, transport and preparation of the gas required to drive 1.5 km requires 3 litres of water. Not to mention additional vehicle maintenance such as car washes, a more sustainable choice would be to use public transit or car sharing to cut down on your water for transport footprint!  Grease and oils left behind on road can get washed into rivers and sewer systems, harming local water quality.

Disposing old medicine down the drain is harmful because once dissolved, they can be difficult to completely remove at wastewater treatment plants. Remnants of drugs in 'clean' water leaving a treatment plant can have a serious impact on lakes and aquatic organisms.