Water Conservation

The Prairies, including Saskatchewan, are expected to get warmer and drier.  Along with a drier climate the demand for the available water is expected to increase as a result of population and industrial growth, and agricultural developments.   These developments mean that water conservation will be an increasingly important climate change adaptation.

In Saskatchewan, the South Saskatchewan River is a key resource. The river rises in the Alberta Rockies and flows east to Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatoon and beyond.  Water use is split among agriculture (86%), municipal (9%), thermal electricity (3%) and industrial use (2%).  Saskatchewan is aware of the growing demand for water and is pursuing watershed planning to protect both the quality and quantity and timing of water supply.

Figure 1: Water Consumption by various Countries (from: Conference Board of Canada)

Efforts are also being made to reduce the demand for water. Canadian per capita water consumption is one of the highest in the world (Figure 1).

There is an opportunity to reduce the demand for water through conservation and increased efficiencies.  Both efforts will contribute to communities adapting to a drier climate and periods of drought.   Data on water consumption within Saskatchewan communities is available from the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority – Community Water Use Records (go to website ).

Low / Dual Flush Toilets

Figure 3: Saskatchewan Environmental Society’s Water Conservation Booklet

Toilet use accounts for approximately 30% of domestic potable water consumption.  The province, through the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and the Go Green Fund, implemented The Provincial Toilet Replacement Rebate Program in January 2009.   A matching rebate was available within many communities (e.g. Gull Lake, Humbolt, White City | view PDF document on SWA website).  By June of 2010, twenty thousand rebates of $50 had been granted.   This meant that nearly 650 million litres of water had been conserved over the first year and a half of the program.

Homeowner Education

Several provincial agencies and groups are promoting water conservation to homeowners.  This includes the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, SaskWater (Figure 2) and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.  The latter has produced a booklet on water use by homeowners (Figure 3).  It provides information on how to cut down on water use for in-home activities within the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room as well as surrounding yards and landscaping (xeriscaping, lawn maintenance and watering). 

Figure 2: SaskWater Conservation Tips

Regina’s Water Conservation Program

Regina implemented a water conservation program in 1988.  The program has been successful in reducing average daily water consumption by 20% and the peak daily water use by 25%.  The program has been featured in a recent Natural Resources Canada publication and is reproduced below.  Conservation programs like Regina’s will become increasingly important in the future.

Figure 4: Regina’s Water Conservation Program (an NRCan publication)