By Sarah Dal Santo

Although 75% of the Earth�s surface is covered with water, most of it is unavailable for our use. In fact, 97% of the planet�s water is too salty for humans and most animals and plants. About another 2% of the water on Earth is held as glacial ice at the North and South poles. That leaves about 1% of water available for supporting plant and animal life. Of the 1% of this available water, most is located in deep underground aquifers and must be pumped to the surface for people to use.

Evidence for water conservation may be seen right here in Langley. Low summer flows in the Salmon River watershed, which covers about 25% of the surface area of Langley, as well as the annual drying of sections of Coghlan Creek, are attributed to water extraction. During low flow periods, pollutants that are carried into creeks via urban and rural stormwater runoff are less dilute. These pollutants, along with water temperatures in excess of 20� C can have harmful effects on fish and aquatic life. Water levels in the deep (but not within the shallow) unconfined sections of the Hopington Aquifer, have until recently also showed signs of decline.

Residential water use, from flushing the toilet to watering the lawn, is the fastest growing sector of water users across Canada. In fact, on a world-wide basis, Canadians are second to only the Americans in the amount of water individual residents use. The average Canadian uses about 120, 000 L (26, 396 gal) of water per year or 326L (71 gal) per day. This compares with an average of 200 L (44 gal) of water per person per day in Sweden, and 150 L (33 gal) per person per day in France.

We must act now to curb water usage if we want to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fresh, drinkable water. And the place to start is right at home!

Toilets make up for approximately 45% of the water used in the home. This compares with 20% used for laundry, 30% for showers and baths, and 5% for drinking and cooking. Every flush sends 13 to 26 L (2.8 to 5.8 gal) of water down the toilet. Conservation tips for the home are as follows:

• Replace old high water use toilets with Ultra Low flush (6 L or 1.3 gal of water per flush) models or retrofit an existing toilet with a flow reducing mechanism.
• Repair leaky toilets and faucets.
• Replace old standard shower heads (18 to 27L or 4 to 6 gal. per minute) with low flow heads with (9 to 11 L or 2 to 2.4 gal. per minute).
• Fully load the dishwasher before sending it through a cycle.
• Similarly, wash only full loads of laundry, but avoid overloading the machine.
• Keep drinking water in a covered container in the refrigerator instead of running the tap while you are waiting for the water to get cold.

In the Garden/Backyard:

Across Canada, water use more than doubles in the summer months. This it�s the time when we are washing our cars, watering the garden, and filling swimming pools. As it turns out, over-watering of lawns accounts for much of this extravagant use of water. Conservation tips for the garden are as follows:

• Plan the garden before planting, taking into account the given soil and drainage conditions and exposure to sunlight. Plant hardy water efficient plants in dry, sunny areas, and water thirsty plants in more shaded areas, or organic soils that retain moisture.
• Set the sprinkler to avoid watering patios, drives and walkways.
• Avoid over sprinkling lawns as this can damage the root system and make the plants vulnerable to disease and pests.
• Sweep the driveway instead of washing with a hose.
• Avoid using power washers to clean every concrete structure around the house.
• Install rain barrels at the downspouts of your eaves to capture rainwater for use on the garden.
• Wash cars over the lawn or in designated car wash areas. Turn off the water between soap applications.
• When mowing the lawn, avoid mowing too often and cutting too short. Grass blades help to shade the soil and reduce evaporation. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn as they are an excellent source of nitrogen.
• A rule of thumb when fertilizing lawns is to use a kilogram of nitrogen for every 100 m² of lawn (or 1 lb for every 1000 ft² of lawn). The best conditions for fertilizing are when rain is forecast, soon after aeration, and when there is low wind. Be sure to avoid fertilizing during times of drought.

Remember Greater Vancouver Regional District lawn sprinkling restrictions are currently in effect from June 1 to September 30 as follows:

Even numbered properties may water lawns on Wednesday and Saturday from 4am - 9am and from 7pm - 10pm only. Odd numbered properties may water lawns on Thursday and Sunday between 4am - 9am and 7pm - 10pm only.