Help conserve water in your home and save money on your water bills by following these tips, as recommended by Alberta Environment and WaterWiser.

Indoor Tips

Bathroom

Shower instead of bath. This can save up to 70 litres of water.
Install a flow restrictor on your showerhead, as this reduces water use even further.
Install aerators on your bathroom and kitchen faucets to reduce indoor water use by as much as four per cent.
Repair leaking faucets and leaking toilets promptly. Even a small drip from your faucet can waste more than 75 litres of water a day.
Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving and save more than 19 litres of water per day.
Install a low-flow toilet or toilet dam. Check with your local plumbing supplier or hardware store for details.
Check toilets periodically for leaks and repair them promptly.

Kitchen

Clean vegetables in a sink or pan partially filled with water rather than running water from the tap.
Re-use the water that vegetables are washed in for watering houseplants.
If you wash dishes by hand, rinse them in a sink partially filled with clean water instead of under running water.
Chill water in the fridge rather than running the water until it's cold.
Steam vegetables rather than boiling them.
Avoid using garburators.
Only run your dishwasher when it is full to make the best use of water, energy and detergent.
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before putting them in a dishwasher.
When purchasing a new appliance, look for one offering several different cycles. This will allow you to select more energy and water efficient cycles when heavy duty cleaning is not required.

Laundry

Wait until you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.
Use shorter wash cycles.
When in the market for a new machine, consider a high efficiency model that will use an average of 30 per cent less water and 40 - 50 per cent less energy.

Other

Insulate your hot water pipes and your electric water heater. Insulation will reduce the amount of time it takes for hot water to reach the tap, saving water and energy.
If in the market for a new water softener, consider one with a "hardness sensor" that will automatically trigger regeneration as needed. This type of softener will make the most efficient use of both water and salt.

Outdoor Tips

Below are a few suggestions offered by Alberta Environment and The City's Parks department to help you preserve moisture in your yard while you conserve water.

Please note: While lawns may take on a yellow/brown appearance due to less moisture, they move into a dormant state and will bounce back quickly when moisture returns. During drought-like conditions, it is important to keep trees and shrubs your priority.

Avoid over-watering (limit watering to two hours maximum). Over-watering can result in shallower roots and weaker plants.
Water in the early morning or evening to prevent water loss through evaporation. This will also help prevent heat damage to your plants.
Collect rainwater off of all buildings in the yard. Plants thrive on natural water. Be sure to empty this water on a weekly basis, as this will prevent your rain barrel from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. You may also place a screen over the top of the rain barrel to help.
Don't cut the grass too short. Longer grass helps to shade the soil and reduce need for water. As well, leave grass clippings on the lawn.
Mulches (wood chips, bark) can help prevent evaporation and suppress weed growth.
Minimize or eliminate fertilizing, as this creates the need for additional watering to dissolve the fertilizer particles. Fertilizers contain salts, which intensify drought conditions for plants. As an alternative, top dress the soil with compost, which helps hold moisture in the soil and feeds the soil.
Plant drought resistant varieties of trees and shrubs. Research native varieties. Nurseries will also have cultivated species that are well suited for drought.
Leave natural debris on your flower beds for as long as possible. This will help conserve moisture.
Start composting. Just start small, using vegetable kitchen wastes, lawn clippings and leaves to make a small pile and turn it occasionally.