Water is a vital resource that touches every part of our daily lives — from cooking and cleaning to gardening and recreation. During the summer months, water use often spikes, leading to unnecessary waste.

Applicable regulations

To ensure responsible use of drinking water, the Town of Kirkland has established regulations that govern how it may be used. These rules are set out in the following municipal by-law:

• By-law No. 2012-55 on the use of drinking water

Rules regarding the use of drinking water

Tips for reducing water consumption

The Town of Kirkland proposes tips and simple steps you can use daily to reduce water waste

HOME

• Compare your water meter reading with that of previous years to gauge your consumption.
  • Take a quick shower instead of a bath.
  • Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it down.
  • Don’t let water run uselessly when brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • Replace defective washers to prevent taps from leaking. Replace old taps, shower heads and toilet flushes with modern water-saving models.
  • Put a water pitcher in the fridge if you like to drink cold water.
  • Don’t throw your garbage in the toilet.
  • Adjust your washing machine’s water level according to the load of laundry you are washing and load your dishwasher to its full capacity before starting it.

LAWN

• Water your gardens and lawns early in the morning or late at night to prevent water from evaporating too quickly under the sun.
• Water your lawn only once a week, by soaking the soil 2.5 cm deep, and skip a week if it has rained heavily.
• Cut your grass 7.5 cm from the ground. Taller grass holds water better.
• Get a rain water barrel which you can then use to water your lawn and gardens.

POOL

• Use a solar blanket to cover your pool. A medium-sized pool that is not covered can lose up to 4,000 litres of water/month to evaporation.