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Water Conservation

Water Conservation 

The Town of Saugeen Shores operates and maintains essential water and wastewater services for residents and businesses across our community. We encourage everyone to conserve water when they can. 

Here are some tips on how to not only conserve water but also save money on your utility bills. 

Inside your home

  • If washing dishes by hand, it’s best if you fill the sink with water to rinse dishes rather than running the tap 

  • Dishwashers, at a full load use less water compared to handwashing 

  • Full loads make the most sense to conserve water even if your machine has an adjustable load setting. Like the dishwasher, use energy-efficient settings on your washing machine 

  • Consider a front-loading Washing Machine, which uses much less water and electricity 

  • Repair those leaks: One slow-leaking faucet can waste up to 75 litres of water per day 

  • Don’t run water unnecessarily. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and doing the dishes 

  • Installing a low-flow faucet aerator on all your household faucets is a great way to conserve 

Choose showers over baths and install a water-efficient showerhead which produces the same shower effect while saving water 

The toilet is the largest water user in your home. If your toilet is more than five years old, it likely uses 15 to 20 litres to flush. Consider replacing it with a new 6-litre flush model. 

Did you know a dye test can detect hidden (and silent) leaks which can cost you countless litres of water? Lift the lid on the toilet tank, add some food colouring to the water in the tank and wait about 15 to 30 minutes. If, without flushing, the colour shows up in the bowl, there is a leak and you should have your toilet repaired. 

Outdoor ways

Your garden hose can use more than 30 litres of water per minute. Some of the ways to minimize water waste: 

  • Practice water-efficient lawn care 

  • Water early mornings or evenings to reduce evaporating water loss 

  • Longer grass requires less water and better protects the roots 

  • Water only what your plants need 

  • Use a spray nozzle with a cut-off handle on your hose so water doesn’t flow continuously 

  • Check your hose connections often for leaks. Place a hose washer between the hose bib and the hose to eliminate leaks in that area 

  • Use a rain barrel to collect water for your garden 

  • Consider water-efficient landscaping and plants 

Did you know the best way to clean outdoors is to get out the broom and sweep? Using the hose to wash down sidewalks, driveways, and pavements is a wasteful and unnecessary practice.  

For your vehicle, consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. 

To conserve water during the summer, the Town of Saugeen Shores enforces By-Law 89-2001, limiting when residents can water their lawns. 

Restrictions: 

  • Even-numbered houses: water on even-numbered days 

  • Odd-numbered houses: water on odd-numbered days 

  • Allowed times: 7–9 AM and 7–9 PM 

  • Hand watering with a watering can is always permitted 

  • Restrictions do not apply to private wells or sandpoints (please display a “Lawn Watered by Sandpoint/Well” sign) 

The key to successful lawn watering is to water slowly, deeply, and infrequently. Frequent and light watering leads to shallow roots and weed germination. It will also produce plants that are unable to tolerate dry periods. Complete drying between watering will help eliminate many lawn and garden diseases.  

It’s best to water established lawns at the rate of one inch per week, applied at one time. Which promotes deep and healthy root development.  

When run-off occurs while watering in sloped areas, shut off the water and allow the water to be absorbed into the ground. Repeat this process as necessary. 

The best time of the day to water your lawn is in the early morning, as less water will evaporate.  

Avoid watering in the middle of the day when evaporation rates are highest and avoid windy days. 

Avoid watering in the evening as the grass stays wet all night, thus increasing the risk of disease. 

Rain gauges are very simple to use. Most forms of rain gauges have a spike or pointed end which is pushed into the ground and a measured container for collecting water. They measure natural precipitation and measure the volume of water applied while watering. Ideally most lawns only require about 1 inch per week. 

Contact Us

Town of Saugeen Shores
600 Tomlinson Drive, P.O. Box 820
Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C0
Phone 519-832-2008
Toll Free 1-866-832-2008
Fax 519-832-2140