Saving water indoors

Biggest water saving opportunity

Reduce laundry

Reduce the number of laundry loads as much as you can each week and switch the appliance to an eco-setting, if you can. Here are some suggested guidelines based on the number of people in the household. 

• One person: one load of laundry per week or less.
• One to two people: one to two loads of laundry per week or less. 
  
• Three to four people: two to four loads of laundry per week or less.
  
• More than five people: five to seven loads of laundry per week or less.
  

 How to do it

• Only use your washing machine when you have a full load.
  
• Wash only the clothes you need to get you through the week.
  
• Reduce your laundry by re-wearing clothing and reusing towels as much as you can.
  

More ways you can conserve water

Be a laundry tourist!

• Consider visiting family or friends in a community that doesn't use City of Calgary water to wash your laundry.

Biggest water saving opportunity

Reduce toilet flushing and showers

• Reduce the number flushes per day by adopting an if it’s yellow, let it mellow and if it’s brown then flush it down routine.
  
• Switch to once every two days rather than daily showers.
  
• Stick to a three-minute shower and turn off the water when lathering with soap or shampooing.
  • Use a timer or listen to a single 3-minute song to help you stay on track.

More ways you can conserve water

Adjust your toilet to use less water

• If you don’t have a low-flow toilet, you can further reduce the amount of water used for each flush by putting a water displacement device (like a brick or a bottle filled with water) in the toilet tank. 

Showers and bathing

• Stick to showers as much as you can. If you need to take a bath, keep it shallow.
  
• Turn off the tap when lathering your hands or face while washing, brushing your teeth or shaving.
  
• Use a cup to rinse your mouth and hands if needed.  
  
• Pull up the stopper and fill the bottom of the sink basin with a little bit of water when you shave.
  
• Skip a hair wash or shave.

Fix leaky taps and toilets

• Inspect all faucets, showerheads, and toilets for leaks and repair them. 
  
  • Take the leaky toilet test.
    
  • Use your water meter to check for and repair any fixture leaks.
    

Cleaning

• Where you can, wipe instead of wash and sweep instead of spray. Review your cleaning practices to reduce or eliminate water use.  

Biggest water saving opportunity

Reduce dishwasher loads

Reduce the number of dishwashing loads as much as you can each week and change the appliance setting to a shorter cycle. Here are some suggested guidelines based on the number of people in the household.

• One person: one load of dishes per week or less.
• Two people: one to two loads of dishes per week or less.
  
• Three to four people: two to four loads of dishes per week or less.
  
• More than five people: five to seven loads of dishes per week or less. 
  

Here’s how to do it:

• Only wash full loads. 
• Cut down on dirty dishes by making meals that require little to no washing (e.g. barbequing), re-using cups throughout the day or even using compostable dishes over the next few weeks.  

More ways you can conserve water

Cooking

• Consider preparing meals that limit pots and pans, like barbecue or one-pot meals.
• Wash vegetables and fruit in a partially filled sink or pot and then rinse them quickly.
  
• Don’t use water to defrost frozen foods. Instead, leave them in the fridge overnight.
  
• Boil food in as little water as possible. Use just enough to submerge your pasta and potatoes.
  
• Keep a jug of drinking water in your fridge. Don’t run the tap to get ice-cold water.
  
• Turn off ice machines.
  

Washing dishes

• Use compostable plates and utensils to cut down on washing up.
• Scrape plates clean rather than rinsing off food.
• If washing dishes by hand, fill one basin part way with hot water for washing and the other side with part way with water for rinsing, instead of running the tap continuously. 

Cleaning

• Where you can, wipe instead of wash and sweep instead of spray. Review your cleaning practices to reduce or eliminate water use.  

Save water in the utility room:

• Turn off your water softener. 
  
• Turn off humidifiers.
  
• Service and repair appliances like water softeners, furnace humidifiers and hot water tanks.