Community Water Conservation
Community Water Conservation
Conserving water saves money, reduces chemical and energy use, defers capital expenditures for water infrastructure, and improves resiliency to climate change.
Check out the following resources to learn how you can contribute to water conservation in Saskatoon:
- Be Water Wise Program: Helps residents and businesses reduce water consumption through education and incentives.
- SmartUTIL: An online tool available to homes and businesses, provides accurate water use information to help identify leaks, set spending alerts for water use, and take steps to conserve water.
- Rain Barrel Rebate: During the average year in Saskatoon, a 1,000 square foot roof will capture enough rain water to fill a 55-gallon rain barrel 110-125 times during the gardening season! Purchase a new rain barrel and apply for a rebate through this program.
City Leadership/Initiatives
The City of Saskatoon is a major water user, utilizing water in its offices, parks, pools, leisure centres, other buildings and facilities, and for street cleaning, vehicle washing, firefighting, and other uses. Outdoor water use in the summer accounts for two-thirds of the City's annual water use.
The City has numerous initiatives to reduce its own water use, including:
- Civic Water Conservation Program: Focuses on conserving water in City facilities and operations, fixing leaks, and using advanced irrigation systems.
- Spray Pad Improvements: Includes replacing nozzles, adding controllers, and climate adaptation improvements.
- Park Watering Efficiencies: Uses irrigation software to match water supply with plant needs, reducing waste. Using reclaimed water and reducing irrigated areas will also help reduce the City’s reliance on drinking water to maintain its natural infrastructure.
Climate Change and Water Usage
Climate change significantly impacts water usage patterns in Saskatoon. As global temperatures rise, Saskatoon is experiencing warmer overall temperatures, more hot days, and changes in precipitation timing[1]. These changes lead to several effects on water usage:
- Increased Water Demand: Hotter temperatures and prolonged heat waves increase the demand for water, especially for irrigation, cooling systems, and personal consumption[1].
- Variable Precipitation: Unpredictable rainfall patterns, including more intense storms and prolonged droughts, affect water availability. During droughts, water usage spikes as residents and businesses use more water for irrigation and cooling[2].
- Strain on Water Infrastructure: Increased peak demand during hot, dry periods can strain the water treatment and distribution systems, potentially leading to the need for costly infrastructure upgrades or water restrictions[2].
[1] Climate Change in Saskatoon
[2] Impacts of Climate Change on Saskatchewan s Water Resources
Alignment with Strategies & Targets
- Water Conservation Strategy: Aims to reduce water use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, increase climate resilience, and manage water demand and aligns with actions in the Low Emissions Community Plan.
- Reduce water use and helps meet net-zero greenhouse gas target by 2050: Saskatoon benefits from an abundance of safe and high-quality water from the South Saskatchewan River. However, one-quarter of the City's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions result from pumping and treating water and wastewater, generating environmental and financial concerns[1]. Spikes in water usage during summer heat waves and droughts can also strain the water system. In 2023, the City's Water Treatment Plant pumped an average of 127 million litres per day and 202 million litres per day during peak demand.
Indicators & Tracking
The Environmental Dashboard tracks:
- Per Capita Water Consumption: Measuring the per capita water consumption and total volume of water and wastewater treated are indicators to help manage the water system, reduce emissions, and adapt to climate change[1]. Per capita residential water use is declining, indicating successful water conservation efforts. In 2023, per capita residential water use was at an all-time low of 187.8 liters/day/person.
- Peak Demand: Peak demand is the highest volume of water needed during the year and is based on the average daily flow of the four consecutive days of highest demand each year. It is important for long-term planning to ensure there is enough capacity in the system to provide the community with the water it needs to meet demand. Peak demand typically occurs during prolonged hot dry periods in summer and usually results from a combination of increased water use for irrigation, cooling in commercial systems, and tourism/hospitality. In Saskatoon, peak demand can be twice as high as the average daily demand. The water treatment system is built to provide water at peak demand, meaning that much of the time it runs at much less than maximum capacity. Increased peak demand can result in costly infrastructure upgrades to add capacity to the system.
[1] Climate Change in Saskatoon
[2] Impacts of Climate Change on Saskatchewan s Water Resources